Earlier Houses: There was probably at least one earlier house on, or near, the site of the current house.

House & Family History: In the 18th century Ketteringham was the home of Charlotte Atkyns, who became famous as a British spy during the French Revolution. Before her 1779 marriage to Edward Atkyns, Charlotte performed on the London stage as Charlotte Walpole (see "Images" section), which probably helped prepare her for work as a spy. She and her husband moved to France about five years before the outbreak of the French Revolution, which placed Charlotte in a valuable position to help the royalists. She was noted for her repeated (unsuccessful) attempts to free the French royal family from prison. Her most famous incident took place in 1793, when, dressed as a member of the French National Guard, she attempted to free Marie Antoinette. Unfortunately, all of this is probably a fabrication created by Charlotte. In the 19th century Sir John Boileau of Ketteringham Hall and the local vicar, the Rev. Anderson, engaged in a battle that was recorded in their diaries, which was revealed in Owen Chadwick's 1991 book, "Victorian Miniature." During World War II the estate was home to a United States air base. Between 1948 and 1965 the house served as a prep school. In 1970 Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, purchased Ketteringham Hall, after which the estate became the home of the Lotus Formula One (F1) racing team.

Collections: Please see the PDF in the "Related Resources" section for the mid-1950s notes and lists of Cornelius Clarkson Vermeule III, the late scholar of ancient art and classical curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on the collection of ancient art at Ketteringham.

Garden & Outbuildings: The house today sits in 36 acres of grounds.

House Listed: Grade II

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSES: Hugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, 13th century. Sir William Appleyard, 15th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: Sir Henry Grey, until 1492. Thomas Heveningham, 1492-99; Sir John Heveningham, 1499-1536; Sir Anthony Heveningham, 16th century; Heveningham family here until 1717. Heron family, 18th century. Edward Atkyns, until 1794. Sir John Peter Boileau, 1st Bt., 1836-69; Boileau family here until 1948. Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, 1970-82.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Offices

Ownership Details: Owned by the Chapman family. The house is divided into business units.

House Open to Public: Grounds Only

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.ketteringhamhall.co.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No

PDF of Cornelius Vermeule’s notes on the classical marbles collection at Ketteringham Hall