Suffolk's Euston Estate near Thetford appoints new director

Robert Childerhouse has become the new director at the Euston Estate, a traditional Suffolk estate owned by the 12th Duke of Grafton or Henry (Harry) FitzRoy in the far west of the county.

He succeeds Andrew Blenkiron, who has taken over at the neighbouring Elveden Estate after 13 years at Euston.

(Image: Sonya Duncan) The 10,500 acre Euston Estate is set in beautiful countryside close to Thetford Forest and is home to a number of stunning natural and man-made assets as well as a diverse range of rural businesses.

For Robert it's like a homecoming. "It's still not really sunk in yet that I got the job," he says. "I did my college work placement here back in the mid-1990s so I have always had a bit of a soft spot for it." 

His first interview with the duke and duchess was via Zoom call. "I think we obviously hit it off quite well," he says.

(Image: Sonya Duncan) "They are quite hands-on and driven. I like to be doing and getting on and driving as well so the two forces came together really. It was an opportunity to take Euston onto its next stage."

The current duke is almost an exact contemporary. During Robert's college placement, the duke's grandfather was still alive and the agent (or estate director) was Christopher Spicer.

Robert, 45, grew up on a 400ha Breckland farm - a mixed arable and outdoor pig operation at Weeting - which is now run by his younger brother Ian while he remains a partner in the business.

(Image: Sonya Duncan) Robert's partner, Andrea - a town planner who runs her own consultancy - is from Haughley and they have a 13-year-old son. 

Eight years ago a "fantastic opportunity" came up to run the 15,000 acre Mulgrave Estate in for the Marquis and Marchioness of Normanby and the family moved up to Yorkshire - but they have now returned so that Robert could take up his dream posting at Euston this week.

After a business studies course at Easton College, Robert worked for Barclays Bank - mostly in the Norfolk and Suffolk Agricultural Team - before joining Smith Gore surveyors in Newmarket in 2008 and then Cheffins in Ely for a short time as a farm consultant.

(Image: Sonya Duncan) He studied surveying at the College of Estate Management at Reading University, and went on to gain RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) and CAAV (Central Association of Agricultural Valuers) qualifications.

He has been a serving magistrate for the last 18 years and sat initially in Norfolk, then North Yorkshire. This month he returns to the bench in Norfolk.

He describes Euston as one of East Anglia's "great estates". Traditionally, these have relied on farm and cottage rents to keep the business afloat - but today they are far more complex businesses and have had to develop new income streams.

Temple in the Park (Image: Sonya Duncan) Euston rents out around 100 homes around the estate - and tries to ensure these go to local people rather than for second homes.

"The estate is a family - we want people to live and work locally," explains Robert. "Euston itself is a very small village - we encourage families and try and keep the community vibrant."

The estate has embraced new ideas and technologies - such as solar farms, a 5MW anaerobic digestion plant and a 200ha carbon-capturing Paulownia forest plantation.

Inside Temple in the Park (Image: Sonya Duncan) Two solar farms totalling 63MW are already operational and another 46MW phase is due to come on line shortly. In total, these produce enough energy to power around 75,000 homes.

The estate works with vegetable grower Abrey Farms which produces more than 400ha of crops such as potatoes, onions, parsnips and carrots.

Wheat and barley are grown in-house, and these have benefited from wetter conditions this year. 

(Image: Sonya Duncan)

"I don't think we are record-breaking but certainly well above average," says Robert of this year's cereals yields. However, crop prices have fallen considerably from the highs of two years ago.

The light land is prone to drought so the estate's two reservoirs are an important source of much-needed irrigation water in the summer. Climate change is a big worry.

Livestock operations include outdoor pigs. The estate is home to the "Suffolk Trinity" of Red Poll cattle, Suffolk Sheep and Suffolk Punch horses. The cattle and sheep are an integral part of its conservation management regime.

The estate is involved in a number of environmental stewardship projects. It has become an outpost for wildlife including stone curlews, lapwings, skylarks and rare Brecks flora.

The Blackbourne River - a tributary of the Little Ouse which runs through the estate - provides a perfect backdrop for some of these schemes. There are many trees - including about 1,500 acres of forestry.

(Image: Sonya Duncan)

The estate is also home to a number of events including the Red Rooster festival in June and the Only the Brave emergency service workers' challenge - and this is an area of the business Robert would like to develop more.

"This area is one of the key focuses I am looking forward to working on with the duke and duchess, helping them drive their ambitions to grow the hospitality and events side of Euston - something they are very passionate about and an area I have had some experience in during my time at Mulgrave."

As part of its diversification efforts the estate opened Temple in the Park - its first holiday let - in 2023.

The duchess oversaw the restoration of the striking 1746 octagonal building designed by William Kent as a banqueting house for the second Duke of Grafton.

"It's been very popular," says Robert.  "There are opportunities to explore for other unique holiday properties on the estate, although we are not looking to create any big leisure developments like other estates have - but instead keeping Euston as a rare and special place to visit."

He's "very excited" about his new job.

"Euston is very different to Mulgrave and I am looking forward to the challenge. Over the past decade or so, the estate has become an award-winning business and has seen significant investment in future-proofing farming on the estate - which is the heart of Euston."

(Image: Sonya Duncan)