The library at Blickling Hall contains one of the most historically significant collections of manuscripts and books in England, containing an estimated 13,000 to 14,000 volumes.

In the 15th century, Blickling was in the possession of Sir John Fastolf of Caister in Norfolk (1380–1459), who made a fortune in the Hundred Years' War, and whose coat of arms is still on display there.

The Lord Chief Justice married Dorothy, the daughter of Sir Robert Bell of Beaupre Hall, Outwell/Upwell, Norfolk, Speaker of the House of Commons 1572–1576.

In 1621 Frances Egerton married Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet and they lived together at Blickling Hall for twenty years.

He was responsible for creating the ha-ha and building the Doric Temple in the grounds, as well as extending the park by the purchase of adjacent land.

[8][9] In February 2021, it was reported that the parasitic wasp species Trichogramma evanescens was being deployed to the hall in an attempt to prevent damage to various artworks there, including a tapestry from Catherine the Great, caused by difficulties controlling the common clothes moth.

[11] The most important manuscript associated with the house is the Blickling homilies, which is one of the earliest extant examples of English vernacular homiletic writings.

[16] The entire collection at Blickling Hall is in the process of being cataloged and put online by John Gandy, who began the project in 2010 but does not expect to finish for several years.

Much of it is classified as Grade 2 and 3 agricultural land which is actively managed by the National Trust to provide income to support the house, gardens, park and woods.

[4] A house and garden existed at Blickling before the estate was purchased by the Boleyn family in the 1450s, but no records survive to give an indication of their appearance.

With the accession of Sir John Hobart (later the 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire) in 1698 the garden was expanded to add a new wilderness and the temple was constructed.

[citation needed] In the latter half of the 18th century John Hobart, 2nd Earl of Buckinghamshire, embarked on works that would radically change the appearance of the gardens.

The lawns which frame the main approach to the hall are bounded by yew hedges which were first recorded by William Freeman of Hamels in 1745.

The plantings in the moist, sheltered conditions of the moat were considerably revised by Lindsay who introduced hosta, species of hydrangea, buddleia and rosemary.

Set around an 18th-century listed stone fountain, she divided the garden into four large, colourful herbaceous beds surrounded by L-shaped borders stocked with roses and catmint with an acorn shaped yew marking each corner.

In the terraces above the parterre there are plantings of peony, seasonal beds and the double borders created in 2006, contain a wide variety of perennials, shrubs and grasses with colours ranging from hot to cool.

To the north of the parterre is the Wilderness garden which is bisected by radial grassed avenues flanked with turkey oak, lime and beech trees and naturalised bulbs.

Adjacent, to the building is a steep sided dell which is home to many woodland plants including a selection of hellebore and foxglove.