Frances Hobart

Frances, Lady Hobart born Frances, Lady Egerton(1603 – 1664), was an English religious benefactor. She managed the finances during the completion of Blickling Hall. She undertook an arduous religious regime arranged by her chaplain John Collinges. Life Hobart was born Frances Egerton in 1603. She was one of the eight children born to John Egerton, 1st Earl of Bridgewater and Frances Egerton, Countess of Bridgewater. She was fluent in French as her parents gave her a huguenot governess at a very young age. She married in February 1621 Sir John Hobart, 2nd Baronet and became his second wife. No children survived from his previous marriage. She and Sir John, had nine children but only one child, Phillipa, survived. During their marriage her husband completed the building of Blickling Hall which his father had started. The debts incurred were under her management and she reduced the huge debts by £6,000. She became enthuiastically religious and committed under the guidance of John Carter of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich and her husband soon followed her lead.