Great Oakley has been in the ownership of the de Capell Brooke family since 1575. We see ourselves not as owners, but as stewards. Each generation has a responsibility to care for Great Oakley and pass it on to the next.

Our family has always found purpose beyond the land. In the 1980s, my late father, Hugh de Capell Brooke, pursued a vision to establish a new school for Corby. He donated 18 acres of Great Oakley land and contributed financially towards the project. The new City Technology College required 30% of its funding to come from the private sector, and the Weston family provided the additional financial support needed to meet that requirement and enable the school to go ahead.

The Brooke City Technology College opened its doors in September 1991 to 1,400 pupils and is today Brooke Weston Academy, the flagship school within The Brooke Weston Trust, with 11 other schools helping to educate over 10,000 students. All twelve schools are currently rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Sir Norman Foster designed the Trust’s second school, Corby Business Academy, and many of its schools have been opened by various Prime Ministers. The Brooke Weston Trust is a non-profit educational charity.

Away from education, the estate thrives through working its farmland, where our dairy herd produces milk for Stilton cheese and our crops supply leading food brands. We also undertake conservation projects, such as the Bescaby Oaks Diamond Wood. Great Oakley has real estate interests in the UK and Ireland, reflecting a broader commitment to the creation and stewardship of thriving communities.

Great Oakley encompasses historic parkland, wildlife habitats, and family homes for rent, continuing a story that stretches back to the Domesday Book. The estate’s work in agriculture, education, and wider community initiatives reflects a commitment to both heritage and the long-term future.

With best wishes,

Alexander de Capell Brooke