The Estate

Bolton is situated at the heart of Wensleydale and is currently home to Tom, 9th Lord Bolton and his family, whose forebears have owned parts of the estate since 1149. The Estate has never been sold, was defended during The Wars of The Roses and English Civil War and has been passed down through the generations, usually from father to son and twice through daughters.

The Bolton Estate today is a diverse multi-faceted business including agricultural, residential and commercial property, limestone quarries and operations in forestry, tourism, weddings, education, renewable energy and traditional sporting activities. Across all of these interests, there is a strong focus on conservation of the natural environment. This is achieved by working in partnership with our tenants and employees, many of whom have also been here for generations.

The area enjoys a rich and biodiverse landscape on which human activities from the prehistoric to the modern have left their mark. Remains include Neolithic, Prehistoric, Roman, Viking and Medieval periods right up to the Baroque hall and more recent industrial archaeology.