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Holderness House was bought by Mr. T.R. Ferens, a former confidential clerk to Sir James Reckitt who had risen to become a director of Reckitt & Sons Ltd and was now also Liberal M.P. for East Hull. Garden Village folk were delighted that the Holderness House grounds had been spared from building development. Ferens was the President of the Garden Village Horticultural Society and in the forward of the August 1911 Show Programme, W.H.T. wrote, "Whilst not far from the main road, the Garden Village is sufficiently rural and secluded to bestow on its inhabitants all the benefits of ‘rus in urbe’. The sylvan beauties of the approach to it have been charmingly preserved by Mr. Ferens’ purchase of Holderness House, and his generous maintenance of its fine woodland surroundings. The rooks still build in the trees, and the songbirds make merry music as of old. In retaining the familiar frontage of noble trees – the beauty spot of East Hull – our Member and Mrs. Ferens have placed not only the residents of the village, but the whole community under a deep debt of gratitude." The Holderness House land bought by Ferens included land which is now Acacia Drive, 42 to 80 Village Road and some bungalows near the Holderness Road end of Laburnum Avenue.

The Trustees of Holderness House have very kindly offered to open their gardens to visitors to mark the Centenary Celebrations of Garden Village on Sunday the 27th July. Thomas Ferens, who lived in thhe magniicent house was agreat friend of James Reckitt and was heavily involved in the development of Garden village. You can take this opportunity to tread the same path as the great man himself between 12noon and 2 pm, but please be mindful as you do that that this is still home to many people, and that you stay on the prescribed routes/areas that have been made accessible . Enjoy the day!