According to a guide book of Beeston Hall, Thomasine Preston, widow of Jacob Preston of Old Buckenham, bought the Beeston Estate in 1640. Her son Jacob Preston appears to have started acquiring land and property in Barton Turf soon after, but it was not until 1830 that Dame Jane Preston purchased the Barton Hall Estate and conveyed it to Sir Jacob Henry Preston in 1839. By 1840 the Prestons owned nearly 800 acres in Barton Turf, including nearly 160 acres of Barton Broad. Their property included Barton Hall and Ikens Farm (then called Storeys Farm). The family’s association with Barton Turf continued into the twentieth century.
Barton Hall became the home of Sir Jacob Henry Preston’s five unmarried sisters, the last of whom, Louisa, died in 1903 at the aged of 89. Many of the Prestons were baptised, married and buried at Beeston St Lawrence church, but Emilia Preston, an older sister of Sir Jacob Henry, married Vincent Eyre in Barton Turf in 1848, which suggests that she was living at Barton Hall at the time. In 1918 Hope Preston, granddaughter of Sir Jacob Henry, married Rene Esencourt in Barton Turf. Their son Thomas was baptised there in 1921 and both Hope and Rene are buried in the churchyard, together with their daughter-in-law Valerie.
Esencourt memorial in Barton Turf churchyard
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Charles Preston, grandson of the original Jacob Preston of Old Buckenham, became vicar of Barton Turf in 1671 and many of his children were baptised there. He died in 1714 and was buried in Barton Turf.