#3265, Thomas William COKE KG 2nd Earl of Leicester

Viscount Coke 1837-1842 when he succeeded to the Earldom on the death of his father. Council Member of the Duchy of Cornwall and Keeper of the Privy Seal. Created a Knight of the Garter 1873. Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk 1846-1906

The 2nd Earl of Leicester, ‘the Victorian earl’, was
born in December 1822, ten months after his
father’s unexpected second marriage at the age of 68. He inherited the Holkham Estate in July 1842, when not yet 20.

His lifelong passions were shooting, forestry and
outdoors practical work. He was responsible for building the extensive range of stables, brew house, artesian well and laundry to the east of the hall, and the terraces, fountain and conservatory on the south. He had 18 children by two marriages, the youngest born 49 years after the eldest. The 2nd Earl died in 1909 at the age of 86 after 66 years in charge of Holkham.

King Edward VII visits the Earl of Leicester in 1908.
Towards the end of his life, stone deaf and nearly
blind, the earl had his bed wheeled into the saloon
every day. During a visit by his old friends, King
Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, the queen said to
Lady Leicester, “He looks so pink and white, I should like to kiss him”. The countess wrote this on his slate whereupon he shouted, For God’s sake tell her not to!”