Comprising some 3,200 acres of mostly arable land and woodland, the Gayton Estate is located about 6 miles East of King’s Lynn. Noel Coward famously said “very flat, Norfolk” but obviously never came to Gayton as the Estate varies from about 50 feet above sea level south of the village, to some 312 feet above sea level at the historic, small wood known as Gayton Clump. The rolling landscape is best appreciated from the Clump which affords a beautiful view of Gayton village and on a clear day, Boston Stump can be seen across The Wash. The Estate Office is at Gayton Hall, which was built between 1803 and 1810 as a shooting box. The original Hall is just across the road and is now known as Hall Farmhouse. The Marsham family first came to Gayton in 1879 when they moved from Kent, initially renting the Estate before buying it outright. 

The land is light and free draining varying from medium loam near the village to drought prone loamy sands on the higher ground to the east. Some fields have a lot of stone, mostly flint, but thankfully, from a farming perspective, most of the land overlays chalk which holds moisture that well rooted crops can draw upon in dry times. There are 225 acres of amenity woodland which enhances the landscape and provides shelter for crops and wildlife. Part of the Estate is let: thirty years ago, there were six tenant farmers, but now only one.

In 2011 the Estate, in co-operation with farming neighbours, built two new reservoirs to store water pumped from the River Nar in winter and used to irrigate crops in summer. The reservoirs can store 180 million gallons (enough to fill 327 Olympic swimming pools), and can irrigate close to 1,000 acres of potatoes per year. Water can only be pumped from the River Nar when the water is at or above a level licensed by the Environment Agency. This is designed to protect the river ecology and ensure only surplus water is harvested.

Also in 2011, the Estate built and moved to a brand new farm yard at Wells Wondy Lane. This new facility has transformed working conditions allowing machinery and staff to operate in a safe and comfortable environment in keeping with modern agriculture. The new farmyard has led to a business arrangement with a local potato farmer who grows potatoes on the Estate, stores 10,000 tonnes of potatoes at Wells Wondy and employs a number of staff there. Together with those employed at Wells Wondy, the Estate offers full or part time employment to some 20 people and provides housing for a further 19 individuals and families. 

Gayton Estate provides land within the village at modest charges for local amenities such as the football ground, the social club, horse paddocks and the allotments at Lime Kiln Road. There are over 12 miles of footpaths and bridleways running across the Estate. The 20 acre Woodland Water Garden at the Hall is opened to the public on several occasions each year. The farming is mostly arable and produces sugar beet for sugar, maize for renewable energy, peas, barley for brewing and animal feed and potatoes for crisps, chips, salads and general cooking. There is some 130 acres of grass let out for sheep grazing to a farming neighbour and managed to encourage wildflowers with no fertiliser used and very sparing use of herbicides, mainly for thistles, nettles and docks. The farm has a Higher Level Stewardship Scheme covering some 340 acres farmed in nearly 120 small blocks from pollen and nectar to wild flower filed margins all managed to encourage habitat diversity and wildlife. Gayton Estate values the environment and wildlife very highly and has won a number of awards for conservation.

Gayton Estate, like all farm businesses, faces new challenges as UK agriculture adapts to life outside the EU and after 47 years of the Common Agricultural Policy. Making a profit could be ever more difficult, but it is hoped that this little bit of England will continue to give employment to a few and enjoyment to many.

Alistair Beales – Estate Manager