David Drake was born in 1845, son of a wheelwright and farmer in Hockham.  In 1871 he was living with his wife and two sons in Thrigby, but by 1881 he had moved to Barton Turf and was farming the 47 acres of land of what is now Home Farm. He was still there in 1891, his family having grown to 13 children. About 1892 he took over Berry Hall, which had previously been farmed by Jacob Silcock. The Drake family has continued to occupy and farm the estate to the present day.

Stanley Drake, a grandson of David Drake, died during the First World War and is remembered in the War Memorial.

There are links between the Drakes and the Amys, Baldwin, Neave and Watts families.