Holton Hall 1928

Holton Hall was the former country seat of Lord and Lady Smythe. It was also the stately home of Andrew Johnston, agent for the Halesworth bank in 1853-62 and a benevolent landlord and farmer.

The park changed hands several times before it was taken over at auction by the Air Ministry to be used by the American Air Force as living quarters for airmen based at the nearby Airfield. It was home to Zemke’s Wolfpack the famous American 56th fighter group, the 489th bomb group and later the 5th Emergency Rescue squadron.

Having fallen into disrepair, in I957 The Hall was demolished.

In 1968 a caravan park was created.

In 1981 the Holton Hall Park estate was put up for sale by the then owner, Jarman & Platt Ltd. The residents formed a limited liability company, each plot owner owning one share, and taking responsibility for the maintenance of the entire estate.

In 1994 Holton Hall Park was given the status of a 'County Wildlife Site', by the Waveney District Council, thus protecting it from further development.

The site is classed as a caravan park and as such has to close during the months of January to March.

The lake and the wood are a magnet for wildlife such as water voles. Carp and various other fish swim there, which in turn attract cormorant, herons and seagulls. Many rare species of plants and ferns can be found round the lake. There are Mallard, Pochard and Tufted ducks. The wildlife is varied ranging from the various species of deer, fox, rabbits, squirrel, stoats, moles, hedgehogs, and bats. There are butterflies, moths and grasshoppers. Many birds including owls, pigeons, and pheasants. In the wood many different types of fungi grow.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust have been helpfulthroughout the history, advising and visiting. In the autumn are fungi forays. A marked trail takes one through the wood.