A HERITAGE ROOTED IN LEICESTERSHIRE
Set in the rolling countryside of Leicestershire, the Pochin Estate is a place shaped by heritage, community, and a deep respect for the land. Home to successive generations of farming families, rural residents, and local businesses, the estate blends centuries of tradition with a modern, forward-looking approach to stewardship.
Across our farmland, villages, woodlands, and residential properties, we are committed to caring for the landscape while supporting the people who live and work here. From sustainable agriculture and conservation initiatives to the thoughtful management of homes, schools, businesses and amenities, the estate plays an active role in nurturing a vibrant rural community.
Whether you are a resident, a neighbour, or simply discovering the estate for the first time, we invite you to learn more about our history, our values, and our vision for the future.
The Pochin Estate is more than a place - it is a living, evolving countryside community shaped by those who call it home.
A FAMILY STORY THROUGH THE GENERATIONS
The Pochin family has been part of Leicestershire life for centuries, contributing to the area’s agricultural landscape, local enterprise, and civic life. Each generation has carried a commitment to preserving the character of the land while adapting to the needs of the times - whether through farming innovation, support for local trades, or conservation initiatives.
This legacy continues today. The family is proud of its place in the community and remains actively involved in the day-to-day running of the estate, ensuring its traditions are honoured while embracing sustainable, modern practices that secure the estate’s future for generations to come.
NORMAN ORIGINS
Originating from Normandy, originally settling in Rutland, the family maintained lands at Whissendine and by the early 13th century started dividing land holdings in the Barkby area. By the 1400s the family was firmly established in the area, with estates that would grow into the core of what we now recognise as the Barkby estate.
Throughout the centuries many members of the family have involved themselves in the issues of the day from Civil War MP’s (Thomas Pochin 1619 -1693) to standing as MP for the abolition of slavery (William Pochin 1731-1798).
During the seventeenth century a master was provided to teach the infant poor of Barkby, with the future education being safeguarded by an endowment in 1703. The still thriving school in Barkby maintains its links with both the family and estate and work closely together still 300 years later.
The addition of the Village of Edmondthorpe came in 1761 providing a closer access to the Great North Road to enable easier travel to London and Parliament.
21ST CENTURY
THE MODERN ESTATE
The present generation of the Pochin family, estimated to be the 27th generation, continues the traditions of land stewardship, community involvement, and sustainable management.
Recent decades have seen evolving land-use strategies and the participation in local development projects near Barkby, a focus on sustainability, conservation, and responsible estate planning as well as continued engagement with residents, farmers, and local partners.
LOOKING AHEAD
While we are proud of our heritage, the Pochin Estate is equally focused on the future. Our ongoing work in environmental conservation, habitat restoration, and responsible property management reflects our belief that the countryside should be protected, enhanced, and shared.
Rooted in history yet evolving with purpose, the Pochin Estate stands as a place where tradition and progress come together - shaped by the land, guided by the past, and committed to the generations still to come.