There have been settlements in the area around Halesworth since the earliest times. A Roman road is believed to have gone from Dunwich to Halesworth and it crossed the River Blyth at Blyford, the adjoining village to Holton. The road then turned westwards along the northern bank of the river towards Halesworth passing through Holton.

Development in medieval times was relatively small and the parish remained mainly agricultural with the village at its centre. During the First World War soldiers were billeted in the area.  
 
A major change took place in Holton during World War II, when one of the largest airfields in East Anglia was built at Upper Holton.  It became operational in 1943 and was the home of Zemke’s Wolfpack (56th Fighter Group), the 489th Bomb Group and the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron at various times from 1943 onwards. Glenn Miller and his orchestra entertained the airmen on the base here in August 1944.

The Halesworth (Holton) Airfield Memorial Museum was set up by a group of local volunteers with the support of Bernard Matthews and now stands at the end of one of the runways of the World War II airfield on Sparrowhawk Road in Upper Holton. Outside are three memorials, one to each of the main groups who were stationed there.

Click here for more information on the Airfield Museum

The largest house in the area, Holton Hall, was demolished in 1957. There is no information on exactly when the original Hall was built, but it was purchased from a John Brewster Wilkinson by Andrew Johnston, the Manager of Gurneys Bank in Halesworth and whose memorial plaque can be seen in Halesworth Church. In 1882 a fire destroyed the hall, which was rebuilt the following year. In 1887 it was purchased by Colonel Charles Easton and when he died in 1909 the Estate passed to his wife. During World War II the house was taken over by the American Air Force as the Headquarters for Holton Airfield. Then in 1945, when they left, the Land Army Girls resided there until 1947. Today some of the grounds are occupied by mobile homes within a nature conservation area.