Strumpshaw steam museum is part of the Strumpshaw Estate,
1000 acres of beautiful Norfolk countryside. The estate is a working farm,
and is also home to the Strumpshaw Livery Stable.
Strumpshaw’s last resident ‘squire’ was William Holmes. His father had
bought the estate in 1881 after returning to the family’s resident Norfolk
from Scotland. William James Owen Holmes was a Fellow of the Royal Society
who had a passion for astronomy. He wished his son to learn how to manage
his inheritance of the Strumpshaw estate, and so he sent him to attend the
Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester.
Strumpshaw estate lay between two branches of the great Eastern Railway;
the closest of these branches had been built by Robert Stephenson. It was
therefore quite natural that whilst he was attending the College young
William would often visit and take an interest in the railway workshops at
nearby Swindon.
William married Mabel, the daughter of Edward and Anne Barnes, and in
1908, on the death of his father, he took over the Strumpshaw Estate.
During his time as the owner of the Hall his passion for engineering grew
and he built a generator, producing the first electricity ever known in
Strumpshaw. He also had a steam yacht moored by the fen; the yacht was
named the S.S.Flower, an inherited family name. William had diabetes and
took solace in alcohol; sadly for all his promise he died at an early age.
Through a marriage William Holmes’ lineage and his passion for engineering
has survived.
Wesley Key married Mary nee Holmes. Wesley tended his museum daily and
opened up the museum, welcoming visitors from May to September every year.
Wesley bought his first steam engine when he was just sixteen, and his
passion for these giants of the Victorian age never ceased.
Wesley was the founder of the annual Steam Rally which is held every
Spring Bank Holiday at Strumpshaw. The park has been the setting for
rallies since 1968.
Over a century after William James Owen Holmes came to Strumpshaw his
great great grandson; William Key is now resident at the Hall.
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Three generations at Strumpshaw Steam Museum, Sept
1982.
Left to right: Wesley Key, son Jimmy and grandson William.
William
Key with Princess Royal
at the 2009 Strumpshaw Rally. |
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Wesley Key on the footplate of Ginette Marie in Strumpshaw Park,
June 1982.
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