Great Oakley Estate

History, nature, wildlife and architecture are all encapsulated within the Great Oakley Estate.

The history of the Great Oakley Estate is a rich one. It has been under the ownership of the Brooke & de Capell Brooke family in some form since the late 1400s – but with previous Lords and Stewards going as far back as the late 11th century.

Oakley is an Anglo-Saxon word meaning ‘oak clearing’ which suggests that Great Oakley was formed during woodland clearance in the 9th or 10th century. At this time it is thought the settlement was part of a large multiple estate comprising several later parishes.

The family has continued to contribute to the community – in 1921 Sir Arthur de Capell Brooke had a village hall built for the use of the local community for social activities. This was later replaced by a new village hall in 2011, built on land donated by Great Oakley Estates and partly funded by Harpers Brook Farm – in which Great Oakley Estates is a partner.

Along with agriculture, a key pillar of the estate has also been education. The Brooke Weston Partnership via The Brooke Weston Trust, educates over thousands of children in a number of schools. The Brooke Weston Trust is a non-profit making educational charity.