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About Halifax Estates

Halifax Estates encompass 20,200 acres across four estates in North, South and East Yorkshire.

Our Future Strategy
Garrowby Landscape

Our History

1803

Sir Francis Lindley Wood, second Baron of Barnsley, buys Garrowby Estate from the Remington family

1820s

Charles, First Viscount Halifax buys Hickleton Hall Estate near Doncaster. It becomes the principal Halifax family home until the death of his son, Charles, Second Viscount Halifax in 1934

1904

The Third Viscount Halifax, Edward Wood, is bequeathed Temple Newsam Estate near Leeds

1907

Edward, The First Earl of Halifax, inherits Garrowby Estate

1909

Garrowby Estate becomes The First Earl's family home until his death in 1959

1926

Edward, The First Earl of Halifax, becomes Viceroy of India

1938

Edward becomes Foreign Secretary at the outbreak of the Second World War

1959

Following the death of Edward First Earl of Halifax, his son Charles becomes Second Earl of Halifax

1964

The Second Earl buys the Heslington Estate from Lord Deramore

1970s

The Second Earl buys the Haywold Estate from Sir Richard Prince-Smith

1980

Peter becomes the Third earl of Halifax following the death of his father

1980s

Land drainage of Garrowby Estate dairy grassland creates productive arable land and numerous agricultural buildings are erected

1980s to present

Farms amalgamated following death or retirement of tenants to create larger and more commercially viable holdings

2000 to present

Continuing diversification of Estate income streams to reduce reliance on agricultural rents

2001

Lease granted to the University of York for Halifax Court, the first student residence development on Heslington Estate

2007

Long lease granted to the University of York for East Campus, a second £750m campus to accommodate the University’s 25 year expansion plans

2011

Development of Penny Hill Wind Farm on Hall Farm, Ulley near Sheffield

2017

Lord and Lady Halifax move to the newly constructed Bugthorpe House and Lord Irwin moves into Garrowby Hall

2020

Lord Irwin commences the adoption of regenerative farming techniques and practices on the in-hand farm

Garrowby Estate near York

At 13,230 acres, Garrowby Estate is the largest of the Halifax Estates. A significant area of the Estate is designated as a Heritage Area with nationally important landscape value. Located 13 miles to the east of York, it includes:

At its centre lies Garrowby Hall, the private residence of Lord Irwin, Lord Halifax's son.

Haywold Estate near Driffield

The Haywold Estate covers 2,155 acres of mainly large productive arable fields, dotted with woodland and farmsteads. More than 90% is let to one of the UK's largest family-owned farming businesses, JSR Farms, who operate large scale arable and pig enterprises.

Heslington Estate near York

The Halifax family purchased Heslington Estate in 1964 from Lord Deramore. The University of York has collaborated with the Estate to carry out significant expansion of its facilities since 2001.

Halifax College was the first development on land owned by the Estate, now housing 770 students. The Heslington East campus has been let to the University since 2007 which covers 240 acres and accommodates 3,300 students in five colleges. The Department of Computer Science, School of Arts and Creative Technologies, School for Business and Society and York Law School are all located on Heslington East. There are also numerous commercial businesses located on the campus which are predominantly research based and benefit from the shared University facilities.

The 17 acre playing fields have been let to the University since 1996 and is a core facility. Due to the continuing success of the University, further opportunities for expansion are anticipated in the forthcoming years.

Fulford Golf Course remains part of the Estate. It has held several prestigious tournaments, including 1981's Benson & Hedges International Open during which Bernhard Langer memorably played his ball from a tree!

Farming

The underlying soil includes well bodied loams and very light sand well-suited to potatoes and carrots. Several of the Estate's eight agricultural tenants also run secondary non-agricultural businesses.

South Yorkshire Estate

This estate comprises land at Hickleton and Ulley. Hickleton is located six miles west of Doncaster in South Yorkshire. It is mostly arable and farmed by tenants who took over the tenancies from their parents.

The traditional parkland of Hickleton Hall with its avenues of trees and stone statues is grazed by cattle belonging to an estate tenant.

Ulley is located 11 miles east of Sheffield and comprises arable land which also has part of the Penny Hill windfarm supplying 12,000 homes with renewable energy.

Our Roots

More than two centuries of stewardship

Since the acquisition of the embryonic Garrowby Estate in 1803, Halifax Estates has continued to grow in size.

Our history

Looking to the future

Halifax Estates are managed for the benefit and conservation of future generations. A key part of the management strategy is to continue to identify and adopt initiatives in:

  • renewable energy
  • regenerative farming practices
  • strategic development

This objective is balanced with maintaining the look and feel of an agricultural estate.

Our future strategy