Suffolk

Bristol Estates continues to owns property, and property related rights and interests, including rights to restrictive covenants, rights of pre-emption, and rights of reverter, in and around a number of villages in Suffolk that have been owned by the Hervey family for hundreds of years.

Thomas Hervey acquired the original Ickworth estate in 1437 after moving to Suffolk from Bedfordshire. The majority of the family property interests in Suffolk continued to centre around Ickworth. Estates in Tuddenham, Playford and Shotley came into the family through the marriage of John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol to Elizabeth Felton, daughter of Sir Thomas Felton Bt.

The Horringer estate came into the family later through the marriage of Frederick Hervey, 4th Earl of Bristol to Elizabeth Davers, daughter and heiress of Sir Jermyn Davers Bt of Rushbrooke Hall, Suffolk. Over time interests grew to include Little Saxham, Westley, Chevington, Chedburgh, Whepstead, Barrow, Hargrave, Rushmere, and Shotley amongst others.

Over the centuries the Bristol family has left a significant mark on the area. Having founded and built a large number of the churches and schools in the villages surrounding Ickworth including those in Bury St Edmunds, many of which are still active today. Bristol Estates also conveyed the Abbey Gardens in the centre of Bury St Edmunds to the town council in 1953 on favourable terms.