Wikipedia

Blickling Hall

Blickling Hallis aJacobeanstately homesituated in 5,000 acres of parkland in a loop of theRiver Bure,near the village ofBlicklingnorth ofAylshaminNorfolk,England. The mansion was built on the ruins of a Tudor building forSir Henry Hobartfrom 1616 and designed byRobert Lyminge.The library at Blickling Hall contains one of the most historically significant collections of manuscripts and books in England, containing an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 volumes. The core collection was formed bySir Richard Ellys.The property passed into the care of theNational Trustin 1940.

Blickling Hall
TypeStately home
LocationBlickling,Norfolk
Coordinates52°48′42″N1°13′54″E/ 52.8118°N 1.2318°E/52.8118; 1.2318
Built1616
Built forSir Henry Hobart, 1st Baronet
ArchitectRobert Lyminge
Architectural style(s)Jacobean
OwnerNational Trust
Websitehttps:// nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling
Listed Building– Grade I
Official nameBlickling Hall
Designated19 January 1952
Reference no.1051428
Blickling Hall is located in Norfolk
Blickling Hall
Location within Norfolk

Between 1499 and 1505, the property was in the possession of theBoleyn family.

Early history

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In the 15th century, Blickling was in the possession of SirJohn FastolfofCaisterin Norfolk (1380–1459), who made a fortune in theHundred Years' War,and whose coat of arms is still on display there. Later, the property was in the possession of theBoleyn family,and home toThomas Boleyn,later Earl of Wiltshire, and his wifeElizabethbetween 1499 and 1505. Although the exact birth dates of their children are unknown, historians includingEric Ivesare confident that all three surviving children were likely born at Blickling –Maryin about 1499,Georgein about 1504, andAnnein about 1501.[1]A statue and portrait of Anne may be found at Blickling Estate which carry the inscription, "Anna Bolena hic nata 1507"(" Anne Boleyn born here 1507 ").[1]

The house of Blickling seen today was built on the ruins of the old Boleyn property in the reign ofJames I,bySir Henry Hobart,Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleasand 1st Baronet, who bought Blickling fromLady Agnes Clerein 1616.[2]The architect ofHatfield House,Robert Lyminge,is credited with the design of the current structure. The Lord Chief Justice married Dorothy, the daughter ofSir Robert BellofBeaupre Hall,Outwell/Upwell, Norfolk,Speaker of the House of Commons1572–1576.

In 1621Frances EgertonmarriedSir John Hobart, 2nd Baronetand they lived together at Blickling Hall for twenty years. It was Sir John who completed the building of the house that his father had started. They incurred huge debts. Frances was able to reduce the debt by £6,000 but she had to forestall her creditors. John became not well and Frances cared for him. They had several children but only Phillipa survived. In 1647 John died and Phillipa married her cousin and her father's heirSir John Hobart, 3rd Baronet.[3]

Later history

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In 1698 the estate passed down toSir John Hobart, the 5th Baronetwho was createdEarl of Buckinghamshirein 1746. He was responsible for creating theha-haand building the Doric Temple in the grounds, as well as extending the park by the purchase of adjacent land. His sonJohn Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshireremodelled the hall between 1765 and 1785. Although the estate then passed down to his youngest daughter Caroline, who was married toWilliam Harbord, 2nd Baron Suffield,the couple died childless and it thus devolved to Caroline's nephew William Schomberg Robert Kerr, 8thMarquess of Lothian,who remodelled the west front. It thereafter passed down in the Kerr family.[4]

Recent history

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DuringWorld War IIthe house was requisitioned and served as the Officers' Mess of nearbyRAF Oulton.After the death ofPhilip Kerr, 11th Marquess of Lothian(the last private owner of Blickling) in December 1940, the Blickling estate passed into the care of the National Trust as part of his bequest,[5]under the terms of the Country Houses Scheme.RAFservicemen and women were billeted within the grounds inNissen huts,whilst officers were housed in the house itself. The adjacent lake was used by RAF service personnel to practise dinghy drills during the Second World War.[6]The National Trust has created the RAF Oulton Museum on site in tribute to the RAF pilots and ground crew who served in the Second World War, and this may be visited for no additional entrance fee.[citation needed]

At the end of the war, the house was de-requisitioned. The National Trust again let it to tenants until 1960, when the Trust began work to restore the house to a style reflecting its history. The house and grounds were opened to the public in 1962 and remain open under the name of "Blickling Estate". During 2019, the site received 225,624 visitors.[7]

In 2015 the National Trust marked the 75th anniversary of Philip Kerr's death with a celebration of his life and times.[5]

Work began in October 2015 to introduce aheat pumpsystem, using residual warmth from the estate's lake. Tubing, filled with a plant-basedglycol,would be placed in the lake and the resulting liquid pumped into the house for further warming, enabling the heating of large parts of the house. The Trust estimated the project would save some 25,000 litres of oil each year, with cost savings in the region of £16,000.[8][9]

In February 2021, it was reported that the parasitic wasp speciesTrichogramma evanescenswas being deployed to the hall in an attempt to prevent damage to various artworks there, including a tapestry fromCatherine the Great,caused by difficulties controlling thecommon clothes moth.In conjunction with this, chemicals to confuse the moths' mating behaviour would also be used.[10]

Library

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The library at Blickling Hall

The library at Blickling Estate contains one of the most historically significant collections of manuscripts and books in England. The library's estimated 13,000 to 14,000 volumes span 146 linear feet. The core collection was formed bySir Richard Ellys(1682-1742), a cousin of the Hobarts of Blickling.[11] The most important manuscript associated with the house is theBlickling homilies,which is one of the earliest extant examples of English vernacular homiletic writings.[12]The Blickling homilies were first edited and translated in the 19th century by Richard Morris, whose work is still considered definitive. A more recent translation and edition by Richard J. Kelly was widely panned by scholars and critics upon publication.[13][14][15]Another important manuscript formerly at Blickling Hall is the Blickling orLothian Psalter,an 8th-century illuminatedpsalterwith Old English glosses, now owned by thePierpont Morgan Library,where it is MS M.776.[16] The entire collection at Blickling Hall is in the process of being cataloged and put online by John Gandy, who began the project in 2010 but does not expect to finish for several years.[17]Catalog records are available as the project progresses and accessible through the National Trust website or COPAC.

The Blickling estate

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The fountain and east side of the mansion

The estate covers 4,777 acres (1,933 ha) and includes: 500 acres (200 ha) of woodland, 450 acres (180 ha) of parkland and 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of farmland. Much of it is classified as Grade 2 and 3 agricultural land which is actively managed by the National Trust to provide income to support the house, gardens, park and woods.[18] The estate is listed Grade II* on theRegister of Historic Parks and Gardens.[4]

Garden history

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A house and garden existed at Blickling before the estate was purchased by theBoleynfamily in the 1450s, but no records survive to give an indication of their appearance. AfterSir Henry Hobartacquired the estate in 1616, he remodelled the gardens to include ponds, awildernessand aparterre.A garden mount– an artificial hill in Blickling's flat landscape, was made to provide views of the new garden. With the accession ofSir John Hobart(later the 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire) in 1698 the garden was expanded to add a new wilderness and the temple was constructed.[citation needed]

In the latter half of the 18th century John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, embarked on works that would radically change the appearance of the gardens. All traces of formality were removed, and naturally arranged clumps of trees were planted to create alandscape garden.By the 1780s anorangeryhad been built to overwinter tendercitrustrees. Following the 2nd Earl's death in 1793, his youngest daughter Caroline, Lady Suffield, employed landscape gardenerHumphry Reptonand his sonJohn Adey Reptonto advise on garden matters. John Adey Repton went on to provide designs for many garden features. The estate was inherited by nine-year-old William Schomberg Robert Kerr, 8th Marquess of Lothian in 1840. He re-introduced the formality and colour schemes of the parterre. After his death at the age of 38, responsibility for the gardens rested with Lady Lothian and her head gardener Mr Lyon.Philip Henry Kerr,11th Marquis of Lothian, inherited the estate in 1930. After disparaging comments inCountry Life,Lothian engaged gardenerNorah Lindsayto remodel the gardens. In the parterre she replaced the jumble of tiny flower beds with four large square beds planted with a mixture of herbaceous plants in graduated and harmonious colours. Other changes included removal of a line ofconifersin the Temple walk, which were replaced with plantings ofazaleas.[18]

The garden today

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The garden at Blickling covers 55 acres (22 ha)[19]and contains formal and informal gardens,Grade II listedbuildings and structures, woodland, specimen trees,Victoriangarden ornaments,topiary,thekitchen garden(open to the public 2010), and 18th centuryyewhedges. The lawns which frame the main approach to the hall are bounded by yew hedges which were first recorded by William Freeman of Hamels in 1745.[18]Surrounding the hall on three sides is the dry moat. The plantings in the moist, sheltered conditions of the moat were considerably revised by Lindsay who introducedhosta,species ofhydrangea,buddleiaandrosemary.

To the rear of the property is the noted Parterre garden which is located on the east lawn. Originally created as a Victorian sunken garden it was remodelled by Lindsay in the early 1930s. Set around an 18th-century listed stone fountain, she divided the garden into four large, colourfulherbaceousbeds surrounded by L-shaped borders stocked with roses andcatmintwith anacornshaped yew marking each corner. In the terraces above the parterre there are plantings ofpeony,seasonal beds and the double borders created in 2006, contain a wide variety ofperennials,shrubs andgrasseswith colours ranging from hot to cool. Close by, are the White and Black borders which were established in 2009, together with a collection ofelaeagnus.The western side of the garden features the lawned Acre which is fringed by a spreadingoriental planetree. Outdoor sports such ascroquetare played here in the summer months. Further highlights are a collection ofmagnoliaunderplanted with autumncyclamen,the shell fountain and the kitchen garden. To the north of the parterre is the Wilderness garden which is bisected by radial grassed avenues flanked withturkey oak,limeandbeechtrees and naturalised bulbs.[citation needed]

The orangery

The wilderness hides a Secret Garden with asummerhouse,scented plants and a centralsundial.Nearby is the listed 18th centuryorangerywhich houses a collection ofcitrustrees. Adjacent, to the building is a steep sided dell which is home to many woodland plants including a selection ofhelleboreandfoxglove.In 2009, an area of woodland was cleared close to the orangery to create a newwoodland garden.Stocked with a wide range of woodland plants includingcamelliaand varieties ofmahonia.Opened in 2010, it will be known as the Orangery Garden. The Grade II listed Temple is approached by the Temple walk which is lined withazaleaplanted by Lindsay in her original 1930s design. Scattered throughout the garden are many garden ornaments including thirty pieces supplied to Lady Lothian in 1877 by Austin & Seeley ofEuston Road,London.[18]Future projects include the creation of aphiladelphusand rose garden, both of which will be located in the Wilderness and open to the public in the near future.[20] In 2015, it was announced that Blickling's unusedwalled gardencovering 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) is to be regenerated. The project will take five years to complete.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abIves, Eric.The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn.2004, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.ISBN9781405134637,pp. 3, 14–15.
  2. ^Jane Whittle & Elizabeth Griffiths,Consumption and Gender in the Early Seventeenth-Century Household(Oxford, 2012), p. 45.
  3. ^Allen, Elizabeth (23 September 2004)."Hobart [née Egerton], Lady Frances (1603–1664), religious patron and benefactor".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66725.ISBN978-0-19-861412-8.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
  4. ^abHistoric England,"Blickling Hall (garden) (1000154)",National Heritage List for England,retrieved23 December2016
  5. ^abLord Lothian exhibitionArchived26 June 2015 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 25 June 2015
  6. ^Bowman, Martin (2006).100 Group (Bomber support): RAF Bomber Command in World War II(1 ed.). Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. 127.ISBN1-84415-418-1.
  7. ^"ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions".alva.org.uk.Retrieved9 November2020.
  8. ^Sophie Biddle (9 July 2015)."In-depth look at how Blickling Hall is set to be heated using its lake – Environment – Eastern Daily Press".Edp24.co.uk. Archived fromthe originalon 25 January 2016.Retrieved28 October2015.
  9. ^"Blickling Hall, Norfolk: Lake Source Heat Pump: Historic Impact Assessment for the National Trust"(PDF).Broadland District Council. May 2015. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 December 2015.
  10. ^"Blickling Hall: Wasps deployed to protect mansion from moths".BBC News.17 February 2021.Retrieved17 February2021.
  11. ^"The Library at Blickling".National Trust.Retrieved22 April2020.
  12. ^This volume is now housed in the Firestone Library atPrinceton University(MS. 71, s.x/xi) and privately owned by the Scheide family who reside inNew Jersey.
  13. ^Book Review of Kelly's Blickling Homilies in Church History, Vol. 73
  14. ^Review of Kelly's Blickling Homilies in Medium Aevum, Spring 2006
  15. ^Review of Kelly's Blicking Homilies in Speculum, Vol 80, Issue 2
  16. ^Blickling PsalterRetrieved 12 October 2009
  17. ^"Cataloging Blickling's Book Collection".National Trust.Retrieved22 April2020.
  18. ^abcdNewman, J.The National Trust, Blickling Estatepp56-65, p69ISBN0-7078-0086-2
  19. ^National Garden Scheme-Blickling Hall gardensArchived27 March 2013 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 15 April 2013
  20. ^National Trust garden evolutionArchived15 December 2013 at theWayback MachineRetrieved 15 December 2013
  21. ^Blickling's walled gardenRetrieved 3 August 2015

Further reading

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  • Woodcock, T.,Robinson, J.,Heraldry in Historic Houses of Great Britain,p. 46–51,pb. 2000,ISBN0-8109-6691-3
  • Stephen Cooper,The Real Falstaff, Sir John Fastolf and the Hundred Years War,(Pen & Sword, 2010)
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