Blickling Hall

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Image:BlicklingHall.JPG Blickling Hall is a stately home in Norfolk, England, in the village of Blickling north of Aylsham, and in the care of the National Trust.

Once in the possession of the Boleyn family, and home to Sir Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and his wife, Elizabeth between 1499 and 1505. It is presumed that their first two children Mary and George were born at Blickling Hall, along with several other Boleyn infants who did not live long. If the couple's most famous child, Anne was born before 1505 (as one school of historical thought contends) then she too was born at Blickling. However, the weight of evidence would suggest that Anne was born after 1505, probably in 1507 and by that time Sir Thomas had moved to Hever Castle in Kent. Nonetheless a statue and portrait of Anne Boleyn reside in Blickling Hall claiming "Anna Bolena hic nata 1507" (Anne Boleyn born here 1507). The current Blickling Hall was built on the ruins of the old Boleyn property in the reign of James I, by the Hobarts. In 1616, Sir Henry Hobart Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and 1st Baronet bought Blickling from Robert Clere. The architect of Hatfield House, Robert Lyminge, is credited with the design of the current structure. The Lord Chief Justice married Dorthy, the daughter of Sir Robert Bell of Beaupre Hall, Outwell/Upwell, Norfolk, Speaker of the House of Commons 1572-76. A grand display of heraldic material is present throughout the estate. (1)

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Blicking House in the 20th Century

During World War II the house was requisitioned and served as the Officers Mess of nearby RAF Oulton. It was at this time that the house and its estate passed to The National Trust, under the terms of the Country Houses Scheme.

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 the work to restore the house to a style to reflect its history. The house and grounds were opened to the public in 1962 and remains open under the name "Blickling Hall, Garden & Park".

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