Blickling Estate

Sir Nicholas Dagworth

In 1378 the southern section of the manor came into the possession of Sir Nicholas Dagworth, who settled there twelve years later after a distinguished military and diplomatic career in the service of Edward III.

Sir Nicholas Dagworth

© National Trust

Sir Thomas Erpingham

Sir Thomas Erpingham, who bought Blickling from Dagworth’s widow, was a man of even greater public prominence, being appointed one of the commissioners to receive Richard II’s renunciation of the throne in 1399.

Sir Thomas Erpingham

© S Alsford

The Boleyns

Sir Thomas Boleyn, was among Blickling’s most important and significant owners. He made a place for himself at Henry VIII’s court by capitalising on the King’s ardent interest in his daughters, first Mary and then her younger sister Anne.

The Boleyns

© Source: Knight Charles, The popular History of England Vol 2

Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet

Sir Henry Hobart, was respected for his knowledge and sophistication in matters of estate management.

He acquired Blickling Hall in 1616. The Estate cost him £5,500, a price that was little more than half the sum he subsequently spent on rebuilding.

Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet

Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet

Born in Norwich, he was the eldest son of Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet.

Hobart was knighted at Whitehall at King James I of England's accession in 1603, aged only ten, and succeeded his father as baronet in 1625.

He died, aged 54, in Norwich after a long illness and was buried in Blickling Church.

Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet

Sir John Hobart, 3rd Baronet

20 March 1628 – 22 August 1683

He was the son of Sir Miles Hobart (son of Sir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet), and his wife Frances Peyton, daughter of Sir John Peyton, 1st Baronet, and was born in Ditchingham.

In 1647, he succeeded his uncle John as baronet.

Sir John Hobart, 3rd Baronet

Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet

He was the oldest son of Sir John Hobart, 3rd Baronet and his first wife Mary Hampden.

Hobart was knighted in Blickling by King Charles II of England in 1671 and succeeded his father as baronet in 1683.

Sir John Hobart left his 26 year old heir desperately in dept and Blickling mortgaged to a London merchant.

Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Baronet

John Hobart, 2nd Earl

Having lost his mother at the age of four John Hobart spent a good deal of his childhood at Marble Hill House, Twickenham, in care of his aunt Henrietta Howard.

He was educated at Westminster School and Christ's College, Cambridge. He was Member of Parliament for Norwich from 1747–56.

John Hobart, 2nd Earl

Caroline, Lady Suffield

Caroline inherited Blickling in 1793. She and her husband had no children so Blickling passed to the Lothian’s on Lord Suffield’s death in 1821.

Caroline, Lady Suffield

©

William Schomberg Robert Kerr

Born at Newbattle Abbey (Midlothian), Kerr succeeded his father to the Marquessate of Lothian in 1841. He inherited Blickling Hall in 1850, aged 18.

He made many improvements to the house. The waterworks were reorganised in 1857, gas was introduced the following year and in 1862 "warming aparatus" was installed.

William Schomberg Robert Kerr

© Blickling

Philip Henry Kerr

Philip Henry Kerr was the 11th Marquess of Lothian. He was the son of Lord Ralph Drury Kerr, the third son of John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian. He was born in London and educated at the The Oratory School and New College, Oxford.

Philip Henry Kerr

National Trust

In 1940 Lord Lothian bequeathed Blickling Hall to the National Trust, setting the seal on his Country Houses Scheme, with the help of James Lees-Milne. Many estates were saved rather than being broken up wholesale.

© National Trust