DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22423#0425
Letter XXXII.
HOLKHAM.
413
LETTER XXXII.
Holkham House, seat of Earl of Leicester: Collection of sculpture — Collec-
tion of pictures — Drawings by old masters — MSS. with miniatures.—■
Ketteringham Hall, seat of Sir John Boileau : Sculpture and pictures.—
Intwood.—Narford, seat of Andrew Fountaine, Esq. : Collection of pic-
tures — Netherlandish, school —■ Italian and English schools — Collec-
tion of Majolica — MSS. with miniatures.— Attlehorough Church.—
Wolverton, seat of Earl of Orford : Collection of pictures.— Norwich —
Picture in Cathedral. — Yarmouth — Old Crome — Burgh Castle.—
Orwell Park, seat of Mr. Tomline : Collection of pictures, miscella-
neous schools.
HOLKHAM.
The road to Holkham, which is situated in Norfolk, the most
easterly county of England, only three English miles from the
sea-coast, presents a uniform and melancholy prospect—large
tracts of land being covered only with heath or broom.
It was on my first visit to England, in 1835, that I paid a visit
to Holkham House, the residence of the late Earl of Leicester,
then Mr. Coke ; the remembrance of whose princely hospitality
and frank benevolence of manner must be still fresh in the recol-
lection of a large circle. I esteem myself fortunate to have
known this remarkable man, who, while in his own words pro-
fessing to be a farmer in tastes and occupation, yet fully honoured
and appreciated the treasures of art accumulated beneath his roof.
My notice, therefore, of these various objects dates from that
period; nor am I aware that Lord Leicester before his death, or
his son the present Earl, has added anything of note. The
mansion itself is on a truly princely scale. The main building,
which is 114 ft. in length, and 62 in breadth, contains, besides a
basement of rustic work, only one story of very considerable ele-
vation. In the centre of the south front the basement projects,
forming a vestibule, with a portico of six Corinthian columns.
This, as well as the north side, has two low wings, forming an
entire length of 340 ft. The grand park entrance is on the
north side. It leads into a very elegant and lofty hall, in the
middle of which a staircase leads to a gallery ornamented with
HOLKHAM.
413
LETTER XXXII.
Holkham House, seat of Earl of Leicester: Collection of sculpture — Collec-
tion of pictures — Drawings by old masters — MSS. with miniatures.—■
Ketteringham Hall, seat of Sir John Boileau : Sculpture and pictures.—
Intwood.—Narford, seat of Andrew Fountaine, Esq. : Collection of pic-
tures — Netherlandish, school —■ Italian and English schools — Collec-
tion of Majolica — MSS. with miniatures.— Attlehorough Church.—
Wolverton, seat of Earl of Orford : Collection of pictures.— Norwich —
Picture in Cathedral. — Yarmouth — Old Crome — Burgh Castle.—
Orwell Park, seat of Mr. Tomline : Collection of pictures, miscella-
neous schools.
HOLKHAM.
The road to Holkham, which is situated in Norfolk, the most
easterly county of England, only three English miles from the
sea-coast, presents a uniform and melancholy prospect—large
tracts of land being covered only with heath or broom.
It was on my first visit to England, in 1835, that I paid a visit
to Holkham House, the residence of the late Earl of Leicester,
then Mr. Coke ; the remembrance of whose princely hospitality
and frank benevolence of manner must be still fresh in the recol-
lection of a large circle. I esteem myself fortunate to have
known this remarkable man, who, while in his own words pro-
fessing to be a farmer in tastes and occupation, yet fully honoured
and appreciated the treasures of art accumulated beneath his roof.
My notice, therefore, of these various objects dates from that
period; nor am I aware that Lord Leicester before his death, or
his son the present Earl, has added anything of note. The
mansion itself is on a truly princely scale. The main building,
which is 114 ft. in length, and 62 in breadth, contains, besides a
basement of rustic work, only one story of very considerable ele-
vation. In the centre of the south front the basement projects,
forming a vestibule, with a portico of six Corinthian columns.
This, as well as the north side, has two low wings, forming an
entire length of 340 ft. The grand park entrance is on the
north side. It leads into a very elegant and lofty hall, in the
middle of which a staircase leads to a gallery ornamented with