ISSUE 22 SPRING 2016 The Holkham Gazette Working together – Holkham and Heritage House forge closer links

which is so important and generally offering sensible Doris Smith, Joyce Cliff and Marjorie Neve and down-to-earth advice when asked. enjoying each other’s company The links with the estate are also to Heritage House’s benefit in lots of little ways. Mary knows that if she needs some DIY jobs doing, she only has to ask the estate and someone from Holkham will turn up to lend a hand. Mary sees the Holkham links as a useful way of bringing the administration of Heritage House into a more modern way of thinking. In this respect, David Horton-Fawkes’ experience with finances and making organisations work effectively is regarded as key. Fundraising can be a problem for any charity. Heritage House has One of the jewels in Wells’ crown is Heritage House, Heritage House. Lady Leicester’s involvement with enjoyed a good the day care centre for the elderly on Mill Road. It is the day care centre has made her feel part of the relationship with the The Countess of Leicester is a place where the elderly and dependent people of community in a very real way and her involvement town of Wells and people enjoying her new role as patron north go to socialise, have a home cooked with Heritage House has great benefits for the centre. have been very generous of Heritage House, Wells meal, maybe a bath or a haircut, but most In fact the links between Holkham and Heritage over the years, but Mary importantly, it’s an escape from the house for a few House are being strengthened. As well as Polly wants to reach out to bigger donors. It costs over hours a day for some companionship. Under the Leicester’s new role, estates director David Horton- £120,000 a year to keep the centre going and cheerful dictatorship of manager Mary Britton, Fawkes has been made a trustee. Heritage House must raise £40,000 of that sum each Heritage House has become a vital resource for the The centre’s previous patron was the 7th Earl of year. Lady Leicester is able to use her contacts to help care and well-being of ’s old folk.The Leicester and his last public duty, before his death last fundraise. Polly has co-organised a Lunch and centre now plays host to 96 men and women, ranging year, was to open Heritage House’s new conservatory, Diamonds event with her friends, jewellery designer in age from 64 to 101, who arrive there each week. a light and airy room with a spectacular view over the Monica Vinader and Nicky Milner, and she will be They are collected from their homes either by one of fields to the south. Mary is delighted that the estate hosting an Attics and Cellars Tour of the three Heritage House minibuses, or by volunteers continues its support for the centre and views the on 6th May. who use their own cars to collect people from their involvement of Polly as very positive. Every charity The needs of elderly people are changing and the homes and drive them to Wells. needs a figurehead and Heritage House is no different. centre has to find extra money to move forward with One of these drivers, for the past two years, has But, as Mary points out, it makes such a difference new ideas, such as the wheelchair-accessible been the Countess of Leicester and she is delighted to when the figurehead is involved with the running of greenhouse that was completed last year. Bigger have been recently asked to become the patron of the place: attending meetings, doing the driving donors, with deeper pockets, will help.

Adnams Pedal Norfolk 2016 – bigger and better than ever! The Adnams Pedal Norfolk cycling festival will be held over the May bank holiday weekend, 30th April to 2nd May, at Holkham. This year’s event, the fourth to be staged here, is sponsored by Adnams and the charity partner is Walking With the Wounded. The organisers say they have taken everything they have learned so far, plus all the feedback from participants, and have put it together to make an outstanding cycling festival for all the family to enjoy. Riders can choose from routes of 20, 50 or 100 miles, with a maximum total of 250 miles over the three days of the festival. The routes change each day and they all take in the varied and beautiful Norfolk landscape. This year the route sees riders pass through the beer tent in Holkham park at least once – great spectator sport! There are also more hills on the route for riders to fly up (or endure). There is entertainment, spectator involvement and lots for non-cycling friends and family to do, including a climbing wall, a caving experience through 90 feet of tunnels and a giant zorbing ball course, plus mountain biking, cyclo- cross and training and challenges for all ages. This year’s special guest, Orla Chennaoui, is Sky Sports’ cycling expert and a passionate cyclist herself.

www.holkham.co.uk SPRING 2016

A letter to our visitors Holkham’s new Gift Shop has much more to offer! Part of the redevelopment of the new visitor facilities, the gift shop at Holkham is much larger than the old one. With its large glass frontage, the space is modern, light and airy. The shop can now display many more items, in particular those made by talented local artisans. There are The label design for the bottles of rapeseed oil grown at Holkham, available at the gift shop many old favourites on sale, but new ranges have been introduced: there should be something to tempt everyone. A new range of housewares, exclusive to Holkham, links with the theme of the new ‘Field to Fork’ exhibition. There is an expanded range of clothing made by Norfolk outfitters Goddards featuring Holkham’s own tweed which has also inspired a range of lambswool blankets and scarves. A beautiful pendant, designed by jewellery designer Monica Vinader exclusively for Holkham, is available in gold, rose gold or silver. The design of the pendant was inspired by documents found in Holkham’s archives. The Norfolk Sloe Company’s Black Shuck sloe gin is on sale, as is Candi’s Chutney, Pinkster’s Gin, biscotti from and charcuterie by Lisa Scothern, along with favourites such as bottled rapeseed oil from the estate. Local artists are well-represented with paintings, photographs, prints, jewellery and mugs to buy. There is also a range of items featuring Hooty the barn owl, Holkham’s new children’s mascot, as well as pocket money toys. Holm oak and Holkham sweet chestnut saplings can be purchased alongside a selection of seeds to grow beautiful garden flowers and vegetables, chosen by Lord and Lady Leicester. This year the gift shop will stay open until 20th December and will be ‘Flowerburst’ by local artist Helen McConnell, staging some fabulous Christmas made from dried and pressed flowers collected shopping events. throughout the year from the walled garden Education programme goes from strength to strength The education programme conservation planting of its field margins and at Holkham, under the headlands, providing food and cover for the estate’s guidance of Sue Penlington, partridges and pheasants, as well as bringing in wild has gone from strength to birds and insects. When Primary strength over the last three School pupils wanted to plant a wildflower garden to years and Sue has ambitious see how many birds, bees, butterflies and other insects plans for the future. When they could attract, they approached Holkham’s farm she first started, the focus department for help. The estate donated a selection was very much on primary of the wildflower seeds it uses and Simon Raven from school children, tying in to the farm department helped the children sow them the Key Stage 1 and Key around their playing field. The pupils will visit the Stage 2 educational estate this summer to see the estate’s wildflowers programmes. These included growing and the birds and insects they attract. visits to the hall, pond In addition to this formal learning, Sue and her dipping in the park and team have expanded their family activities to include exploring the wildlife found trailer tours, which are extremely popular, as well Bloomfield Andrew © photograph Buzzard on the beach and in the as deer safaris. pine woods of the National Nature Reserve at Wells. technology and diversification is embraced by a This year sees the launch of a new Since those early days, the scope has widened. The traditional estate. monthly toddler group ‘Twiglets’ as well as education team continues to offer the early years and The education team is passionate about explaining outdoor woodland birthday parties. Not primary education programme but has now expanded the work Holkham does in promoting and conserving all of the team’s time is spent with young to include secondary and sixth form itineraries. There wildlife and recently they have involved local schools. people: they are also responsible for are field study sessions linking to the national In February children from Wells Primary School leading guided walks for adults and this curriculum and examination specifications in helped education co-ordinator Will Clennell to year have expanded this offer to geography, biology, environmental studies, leisure and complete the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust include a number of different tourism, as well as art and design. A significant part of Big Farmland Bird Count. This has been running for workshops based on the fantastic this offering is the new state-of-the-art exhibition three years and aims to highlight the good work done wildlife on the estate. exploring the origins of farming at Holkham. The by farmers and gamekeepers in helping to reverse the Sue Penlington can be contacted on ‘Field to Fork’ exhibition demonstrates, through the decline in farmland bird numbers. 01328 713112 or by email use of interactive, dynamic displays, how modern day For many years, Holkham has been involved in [email protected]

A common buzzard: one of the species seen on the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Big Farmland Bird Count SPRING 2016

Classical music in the Marble Hall The Victoria’s executive chef at the East Anglian Game and Country Fair Louis Schwizgebel – Piano Friday 10th June at 7pm The East Anglian Game and Country Fair is an The programme includes annual two-day, family event held at the Norfolk Schumann: Kinderszenen Op.15, Showground, Norwich. This year’s show will take Brahms: Two Rhapsodies Op.79, place on 23rd and 24th April. Schubert: Sonata in C minor We are delighted to say that Nik Hare, D.958 executive chef at The Victoria, has been invited to demonstrate his considerable skills in the Louis Schwizgebel was born in Cookery Theatre and Food Hall at 3.30pm at this Geneva in 1987. Age 17, he won year’s show. In celebration, we have two family the Geneva International Music tickets for the Country Fair to give away in our Competition, in 2012 took the prize draw. second prize at the Leeds ¡ International Piano Competition, and was a BBC New Generation PRIZE DRAW Artist in 2013. He has played as a Win one of two family tickets for the soloist with orchestras from around East Anglian Game and Country Fair 2016 the world and during the 2015/16 To enter email your name, address and telephone number to [email protected], season he will play with the LPO, mentioning the East Anglian Game and Country Fair prize draw, or complete this form the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and post to: East Anglian Game and Country Fair Prize Draw, Marketing Department, and with orchestras in the USA, Holkham Estate Office, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1AB. Canada and Australia, as well as Closing date midday, Friday 15th April, 2016. giving recitals and concerts in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. NAME...... Louis made his debut in the summer of 2014 at the North Norfolk Music ADDRESS...... Festival...... He studied with Brigitte Meyer in Lausanne and Pascal Devoyon in EMAIL ...... Berlin and then at the Juilliard School with Emanuel Ax and the PHONE...... Royal Academy. We would like to keep you informed of events and offers at Holkham by email. Please tick this Visit the Holkham website – box if you do not wish to receive communications from us. www.holkham.co.uk – to book Only one entry per household. For full terms and conditions and Holkham’s privacy policy, see online or telephone Holkham www.holkham.co.uk/html/newsletter.html

Ticket Office on 01328 713111. Borrgreve Marco © Picture

What’s on locally... The start of our visitor season always sees lots of events for all the family at Holkham. We look forward to seeing you. Holkham parkrun Talk –The Housekeeper’s Tale normally closed to the public. 11am, 1pm & 3pm Every Saturday morning in Holkham park. Meet at Join Tessa Boase in the Saloon for a talk about her Sunday 29th May the car park at 8.50am. successful book The Housekeeper’s Tale. 6pm. Park Discovery Day – Pond Dipping Saturday mornings throughout the year Friday 22nd April Discover what lies beneath the water in Holkham Sow a Sweet Pea Adnams Pedal Norfolk Cycling Festival lake. Sessions from 10am-12pm and 1pm-3pm. Visit the walled garden and get your ‘green fingers’ at Everything fabulous about bicycles for all the family. Tuesday 31st May, Thursday 2nd June the ready to plant a sweet pea seed to take home. Saturday 30th April – Monday 2nd May Auction of items from Bygones collection How big will it grow? 10am to 4pm. Walking Women An auction, conducted by Cheffins of Cambridge to Tuesday 29th March to Sunday 10th April Meet at the Beach Café, Wells at 10am. sell static engines and vehicles, as well as kitchen, Walking Women Tuesday 3rd May brewing, gamekeeping and domestic items. At Holkham Park. Meet outside the ticket office at Photography Workshop – Explore your Holkham Farming Company’s base at Egmere. 10am. Camera Friday 3rd June (viewing day), Saturday 4th June (sale day) Tuesday 5th April, Tuesday 7th June This one-day event will introduce you to essential Open Farm Sunday Tractor Trailer Tours of Holkham Park elements of photography and technical features of Enjoy a wonderful family day out. 10am to 5pm. Hop on board our trailer for a guided tour of your digital camera. 9.30am to 4.30pm. Sunday 5th June Holkham park. At 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm & 2pm. Wednesday 4th May Deer Discovery Walks Wednesday 6th, Thursday 7th April, Wednesday 1st June 19th Wells Poetry Festival Learn about the deer herd in the park. Outdoor Workshop – Migrating Birds To be held at Alderman Peel High School 10.30am & 1pm. Migration is one of the wonders of the natural world. Market Lane, Wells-next-the-Sea. Wednesdays 8th June, 15th June, 22nd June, 29th June Find out more. 8am to 12noon. Friday 6th May to Sunday 8th May Chamber Music Concert – Louis Schwizgebel Tuesday 12th April Outdoor Workshop – Bird Identification Schumann, Brahms and Schubert. 7pm. Twiglets Toddler Group Confidently identify a wide range of common and less Friday 10th June Our outdoor parent and toddler group for children. common UK birds. 10am to 12noon. Walled Garden Rambles 10am to 11.30am. Tuesday 10th May A guided walk to explore the six acre walled garden. Thursdays 14th April, 12th May, 9th June Spring Tours of the Private Gardens At 10.30am, 12noon, 2pm & 3.30pm. Enjoy an opportunity to view the private gardens Thursdays 16th June, 21st July For more information about Holkham events visit www.holkham.co.uk

SPRING 2016

The Housekeeper’s Tale –a talk by author Tessa Boase Auctioning the past to Join Tessa Boase in the Saloon on Friday 22nd April at 6pm for a fascinating talk about her book The Housekeeper’s Tale. make way for the future A housekeeper was one of the most prestigious jobs a 19th or We have instructed Cambridge-based auctioneers Cheffins to sell a number of early 20th century woman could want and also one of the toughest. rural and domestic artefacts which we have accumulated as part of the former The housekeeper of an English country house might manage a hundred Bygones museum collection. servants and a domestic budget on a par with a small bank. She had no need of a As part of our rationalisation of this collection, a number of items will be home of her own or, for that matter, a husband. But for all her importance, she has auctioned by Cheffins and the proceeds reinvested in the new exhibition and been invisible to history. education facilities at Holkham. The ‘Field to Fork’ exhibition, shop and café will Tessa will share surprising personal stories of still display some of the collection, whilst other items have been retained for domestic service in great British country houses. restoration, returned to their owners, or donated to other museums. There is an unwanted pregnancy, a forbidden love A viewing day will be held on Friday 3rd June with the auction on affair, a prison sentence and several cases of summary Saturday 4th June at the Holkham Farming Company’s base at Egmere. dismissal. Far from the cosy, complacent world of The auction will include stationary engines, vehicles, agricultural and Mrs Hughes in Downton Abbey, real housekeepers domestic items. There are some notable highlights due to be auctioned; worked surprisingly hard, often in humiliating these include a unique Soames steam cart, built in 1897, which is eligible circumstances, for very little financial reward. This for the to Brighton Car Rally and a Tidman centre engine which was not, as it turns out, such a cushy job. traditionally stands in the centre of fairground rides. There are also unique Doors open at 6pm with a chance to view some and interesting objects from yesteryear. of the state rooms in the hall and the talk will More information is available on our website, visit www.holkham.co.uk commence at 6.45pm. Tickets are £18, including and a detailed catalogue will be available on the Cheffins website closer to a glass of wine in the Marble Hall during the the time at www.cheffins.co.uk interval. There will be the opportunity to buy signed copies of The Housekeeper’s Tale after the Holkham’s parkrun proves very talk. Visit Holkham’s website – successful for all ages www.holkham.co.uk – to book online or If you enjoy getting out for some gentle jogging (or Olympic-style running) telephone the ticket office on 01328 713111. it may be that Holkham’s new parkrun is for you. Parkrun is an organisation that arranges free, weekly, timed runs of five kilometres (a shade over three miles) that anyone, of whatever age, is very welcome to try. Holkham currently plays host to around 100 people a week, ranging in age from 10 to over 70. The What has happened to the nice thing about parkrun is that it is not competitive, though the results are posted on the event’s website each week, so if you want to compare yourself with trees in the park? others of your age, you can do! Over the closed season a great deal of work Holkham’s parkrun is held each Saturday has been done on the parkland trees. New morning. Everyone gathers at the car park head forester, Harry Wakefield, explains why. at 8.50am for a briefing and the runners “The trees until now have been largely left depart on a stewarded course at 9am sharp. to their own devices and because of this they To take part you need to register at have developed some problems. The English www.parkrun.org.uk/register which not only pollarding work done on the trees will ensure lets you to take part in the free Holkham safety in an area with heavy footfall and will run, but any other parkrun as well. You can augment overall tree health. The trees’ heavy also join the team of volunteers who help lower limbs had started to tear, allowing water make parkruns so successful. in and rot to take hold. These limbs have been removed. The trees will soon put out newer healthier growth. Crown reductions have Meet James... stabilised and balanced the mature James Beamish is the new farm manager at Holkham hardwoods. Farming Company. He worked under Holkham’s If they are to survive into the future, the director of farming, Poul Hovesen, for 20 years at Salle trees need to be treated. A tree management in and is a Norfolk man to his core. programme has been carried out by the Born south of Norwich, he studied at Easton College. forestry team along with arboricultural James has a real interest in the agronomy of growing contractors. This means that the trees are crops, how the soil ‘works’ and what can be done to much healthier and will live for longer. Tree improve soil health to make it more productive and to safety now means tree health for the future. protect its longevity for future generations. The forestry team is also planting new trees to establish the next generation of specimens in Holkham park.” ... and James! James Platten is the new manager of the Beach Café in Wells. He is planning several events at the café this summer, including the King’s Lynn Ukulele Band! However, he has not lost sight of the Beach Café’s appeal to dog owners and the K9 Club, Bertie’s Bark- up Bar and the Wash ‘n’ Wag are going from strength to strength. James and his team are looking forward Above: one of the trees that has been pollarded. Right: the badly rotted to welcoming everyone who visits Wells beach this heart of a tree that had to be felled. year, accompanied by dogs or not!

Next issue published in Summer 2016 © The Holkham Gazette 2016, Published by Coke Estates Limited, Holkham Estate Office, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk NR23 1AB, Phone: 01328 710227