He is particularly noted for commissioning the design and construction of holkham hall in north norfolk. Our family has lived in this house continuously since. The 7th earl of leicester, who has died aged 78, was a farmer and countryman who revived the fortunes of his family seat, holkham hall, in norfolk, overseeing its transformation from a crumbling. Among the manuscripts of the coke family, earls of leicester, including collections of sir edward coke 15521634, lawyer and politician. The first foundations for the country house were laid in 1734 but the building was not completed until 1764. Welcome to holkham and to what is still very much a lived in, family home. Cokes vision of an italian villa on the north norfolk coast is a reflection of his appreciation of classical art, developed during a sixyearlong grand tour of europe. Holkham hall is an 18th century palladian style country house, located at the heart of a 25,000 acre estate, situated just 2 miles west of wellsnextthesea. Between 1722 and 1728, he was one of the two members of parliament for norfolk.
Having retired from the regular army, he was appointed lieutenantcolonel in command of the norfolk artillery militia on 21 february 1894. It is still a family home, in the private ownership of the earl of leicester. The house was constructed in the palladian style for the 1st earl of leicester fifth creation by the architect william kent, aided by the architect and aristocrat lord burlington. He was educated at eton, and the royal military college, sandhurst. The stately home currently remains the home of the earls of leicester but is. The 7th earl of leicester relied on dogs for communication at holkham hall. Genealogy profile for thomas william coke, 2nd earl of leicester of holkham. Inside lord leicesters stately home, holkham hall the telegraph. Edward coke was born in 1936 in zimbabwe, where his father had settled as a young man, and spent much of his childhood on a remote farm in south africa. Sustainability at landscape scale the earl of leicester. Holkham was built by 1st earl of leicester, thomas coke, 3 who was born in 1697. Its current preeminence owes much to the love and care of edward douglas coke eddie the 7th earl of leicester, a dynamic southern. Holkham, norfolk genealogy genealogy familysearch wiki.
Holkham hall was built by the 1 st earl of leicester thomas coke and remains the family home of the earls of leicester of holkham. Withburga, a parish, in the union of walsingham, hundred of north greenhoe, w. Thomas william coke, 3rd earl of leicester of holkham. Welcome to holkham, home to the earl of leicester on the windswept north norfolk coast, and to what is still very much a lived in, family home. Thomas william coke, 1st earl of leicester of holkham 17541842, politician and agricultural reformer. This great house full of exquisite works of art, one of englands primary tourist destinations, continues to be a thriving, selfsufficient community, providing visitors with a unique perspective on rural life as it was lived during the estates conception. Magnum photographer chris steeleperkins spends a year at holkham hall in. He succeeded to the title of 5th viscount coke and 5th earl of leicester of holkham on 21 august 1949. The hall was constructed in the palladian style for thomas coke, 1st earl of leicester fifth creation by the architect william kent, aided by the architect and aristocrat lord burlington. Two labradors, trained by his wife, would track him through the. Earl of leicesters favourite stately homes visit norfolk. The earl of leicester of holkham hall on the north norfolk countryside gives us a guided tour of the historic houses of norfolk, including sandringham, blickling. Holkham hall is an imposing stately home designed in the 18th century for the first earl of leicester, whose descendants still own the place. Thomas william coke, 1st earl of leicester of holkham.
My ancestor, thomas coke, the first earl of leicester, conceived the palladian hall as his vision of an italian villa on the windswept north norfolk coast. Edward coke, 7th earl of leicester at the holkham hall bathroom the earl of leicester was one of norfolks leading figures and played a key role in preserving and modernizing the holkham estate over the last 40 years. Thomas edward coke, 8th earl of leicester, is the son of edward coke, 7th earl of leicester, and valeria phyllis potter. This palladian style mansion reflects thomas cokes appreciation of classical art developed during his grand tour of europe which lasted 6 years and from which he returned in the spring of 1718. Thomas coke, 8th earl of leicester, and his home at holkham hall. He was the son of thomas william coke, 4th earl of leicester, and marion gertrude trefusis. Today she reveals what it is like to be close to the. Handlist of manuscripts in the library of the earl of leicester at holkham hall. Major thomas william edward coke, 5th earl of leicester of holkham, was born on 16 may 1908. Back at holkham hall, lord leicesters ancestors knew that this was the trick too, whether it was a brightly coloured picture of parrots in the bedroom or a. Thomas edward coke, 8th earl of leicesters office at holkham hall. He married alice emily white 18551936 26 august 1879. Sitter in 9 portraits mr coke of norfolk, mp for norfolk, 17761832, and recognised as one of the major agricultural reformers of his time. Thomas coke, 1st earl of leicester, kb 17 june 1697 20 april 1759 was an english landowner and patron of the arts.
Holkham hall, was a mansion designed on palladian lines, completed by cokes widow in 1764. Lady anne coke, daughter of the earl of leicester, pictured in march 1953, was chosen as one of the queens maids of honour at the coronation. Edward coke, 7th earl of leicester at the holkham hall. The earl of leicester obituary, in the telegraph london, april 27, 2015, accessed via internet, august 11, 2016 the 7th earl of leicester, who has died aged 78, was a farmer and countryman who revived the fortunes of his family seat, holkham hall, in norfolk, overseeing its transformation from a crumbling ancestral home to a major tourist attraction. See more ideas about hall, historic homes and norfolk england. Holkham hall is an eighteenthcentury country house adjacent to the tight village nucleus of holkham, norfolk. Landowner who took charge of holkham hall in norfolk and restored both house and estate to former splendours. He was honoured by being created first earl of leicester, in a recreation of an ancient. Thomas edward coke, 8th earl of leicester born 6 july 1965, is the son of edward coke, 7th earl of leicester, and valeria phyllis potter. Holkham hall is an 18thcentury country house located adjacent to the village of holkham, norfolk, england. Historic holkham hall is bang on trend mansion global. Built between 1734 and 1764, holkham hall is the seat of the earls of leicester the marble hall is a spectacular introduction to the hall with its 50ft pressed plaster dome ceiling and walls of english alabaster, not marble as its name implies. Holkham hall, home of the coke family and the earls of leicester, was built between 1734 and 1764 by thomas coke, 1st earl of leicester.
Home of the 8th earl of leicester and his family, in the 25,000 acre estate. Genealogy for thomas william coke, 2nd earl of leicester of holkham 1822 1909 family tree on geni, with over 190 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. Severe and symmetrical on the outside, the interior is richly decorated, nowhere more so than in the grand marble hall. The 7th earl of leicester, who died on 25th april aged 78, was one of norfolks leading figures and played a key role in preserving and modernising the holkham estate over the last 40 years.
Aug 4, 2015 designed in a severe palladian style by william kent, and built 17341764 for thomas coke, first earl of leicester. His descendants i am his four greats grandson still live in this beautiful place, which has many treasures to discover, has featured in leading hollywood films shakespeare in love. Earl spencer stopped his son marrying me because he feared. Genealogy for thomas william coke, 3rd earl of leicester of holkham 1848 1941 family tree on geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. At holkham hall we are proud of our famous ancestor, thomas coke, 1st earl of leicester coke of norfolk, who pioneered animal breeding and farm husbandry. Thomas william coke, 3rd earl of leicester of holkham, was born 20 july 1848 in holkham, norfolk, england, united kingdom to thomas william coke, 2nd earl of leicester of holkham 18221909 and juliana whitbread 18251870 and died 19 november 1941 inholkham hall, holkham, norfolk, england, united kingdom of unspecified causes. Thomas coke left and robbie buxton during the monte carlo rally. In the hierarchal world of aristocratic titles, most are left to wonder what distinguishes an earl from a duke or prince. Holkham st withburga is an ancient parish in the walsingham deanery of the diocese of norwich. The house was constructed in the palladian style for the 1st earl of leicester.
Thomas william coke, 2nd earl of leicester of holkham. Famous for its title as englands premier example of fine palladian architecture, holkham hall has been the home to the earls of leicester for nearly three centuries. From 1994 to 2015, when he succeeded into the earldom, he was styled viscount coke. Its construction on the holkham estate, which had belonged to the coke family since 1609, was financed by the first earl of leicester, thomas coke. The house also holds a fabulous collection of paintings, including canvases by van dyck, rubens and gainsborough, and the surrounding. Before the war, holkham was easily the largest lowland estate in england, its park centred around the imposing 18thcentury hall, built by the first earl of leicester to house the treasures he. Farmer, nobleman and conservationist, the earl of leicester, has been buried at a private ceremony at st withburgas church on the holkham estate. Thomas coke, 8th earl of leicester, and his home at. Manuscripts from italy to 1500, 99 manuscripta publications in manuscript research. Built between 1734 and 1765, holkham hall the earl of leicesters 25,000acre estate in norfolk is a tribute to a time gone by. The earl and countess of leicester in the marble hall of holkham credit.
Welcome to our home visiting holkham hall holkham estate norfolk. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Holkham hall is located opposite the village of holkham in norfolk, england. Thomas coke, 6th earl of leicester at holkham hall. Holkham hall is one of englands finest examples of the palladian revival. Based on designs by william kent, the palladian style mansion was built by thomas coke, the 1st earl of leicester between 1734 and 1764.