Lord Henniker’s Magnificent Suffolk Estates

Pop quiz: what’s the connection between Barley Green Farm and the Henniker-Major family? Well, it turns out that Barley Green Farm was once part of the family’s magnificent Suffolk estates. Back in the day, Lord Henniker (and the Henniker-Major family) were the largest landowner in Suffolk, with over 30,000 acres.

Sadly, ill-health, taxation and other issues, forced an early example of “downsizing“. The current estate has a “mere“ 3,000 acres with a restored Thornham Hall (the family seat). They’ve been very publicly spirited and opened up their estate with a network of beautiful trails (the "Thornham Walks“). This is just 20 minutes away from Barley Green Farm, and we used to go there often, as my parents loved the estate… and much enjoyed a Sunday afternoon walk with a cup of tea.

Consequently, Barley Green Farm too is a fraction of its former size, at just 8 acres. A smallholding rather than a true farm. However, at its peak, it was perhaps hundreds of acres. This is reflected in the “high status“ construction of the late-Elizabethan main house, and its near-contemporary, an unusually large Suffolk barn.