Simon Finch: The Rare-Book Dealer, Voewood Custodian and Cultural Figure Behind a Remarkable English Legacy
Simon Finch is a British rare-book dealer, collector, curator and custodian of Voewood House in North Norfolk. His full name is Simon Timothy Keith Finch, and he has built a distinctive reputation through antiquarian books, historic objects, counterculture material and the restoration of one of England’s most striking Arts and Crafts homes.
Born in March 1956, Finch is 70 years old in 2026. His birthday is celebrated on 18 March. He has spent more than four decades in the rare-book trade and is best known for Simon Finch Rare Books, Voewood Rare Books and his long connection with Voewood House in High Kelling, Holt, Norfolk.
His life combines books, architecture, collecting, social history, family and the arts. He is also known as the husband of British filmmaker and digital artist Martha Fiennes, whom he married in 2023 after previously being married to Alexandra Blaker, also known in media as Alex Blacker.
Simon Finch Quick Info
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Simon Timothy Keith Finch |
| Public Name | Simon Finch |
| Date of Birth | 18 March 1956 |
| Age | 70 years old as of 2026 |
| Nationality | British |
| Country of Residence | United Kingdom |
| Profession | Rare-book dealer, collector and curator |
| Famous For | Simon Finch Rare Books and Voewood House |
| Main Business | Simon Finch Rare Books Limited |
| Business Address | Voewood, Cromer Road, High Kelling, Holt, Norfolk |
| Career Start | Rare-book dealer since 1980 |
| Known Property | Voewood House, North Norfolk |
| Current Wife | Martha Fiennes |
| Marriage Year | 2023 |
| Ex-Wife | Alexandra Blaker, also known as Alex Blacker |
| Children | Jack Finch |
| @simon_voewood_finch | |
| Website Connection | Voewood Rare Books and Voewood House |
| Known For | Rare books, restoration, collecting, cultural events and Voewood gatherings |
Early Interest in Books and Collecting
Simon developed an interest in rare books at a young age. He bought his first rare book when he was about 12 years old, beginning a lifelong fascination with printed objects, discovery and the hidden stories behind books.
For him, the rare-book world has never been only about buying and selling. It has been about history, imagination, taste and the thrill of finding something unusual. A rare book can carry the marks of its owner, the spirit of its age and the intellectual life of a previous century. Finch built his career by recognising that emotional and cultural value.
Entering the Rare-Book Trade
He has worked as a rare-book dealer since 1980. Over the years, he developed a strong name within antiquarian book circles and became associated with both high culture and counterculture. His career has included shops in Notting Hill Gate, Mayfair and Holt, Norfolk.
This range matters. Mayfair connects him with the traditional world of collectors, private libraries and fine editions. Notting Hill brought him closer to a more bohemian, artistic and countercultural London. Holt and Voewood connected his work with a powerful sense of place in Norfolk.
Simon Finch Rare Books
A Specialist Antiquarian Business
Simon Finch Rare Books Limited is his main active business. The company is based at The Coach House, Voewood, Cromer Road, High Kelling, Holt, Norfolk. It reflects his long commitment to rare, unusual and historically rich material.
The business is connected with antiquarian books, manuscripts, archives, visual culture, literature, art, counterculture and collectable printed works. Over the years, Finch has handled material ranging from Shakespeare’s First Folio to works connected with alternative culture. This shows the breadth of his taste and the confidence of a dealer who understands both prestige and eccentricity.
Voewood Rare Books
Voewood Rare Books extends the same spirit. It operates from the cultural world Finch created at Voewood, where books, art, architecture and social life meet. The rare-books business is not presented as a cold commercial operation; it carries the feeling of a curated world shaped by taste, curiosity and personality.
Collector, Dealer and Curator
Finch is more than a conventional dealer. He works as a collector and curator, bringing together objects and printed works that speak to each other. His interest is not limited to perfect copies or expensive editions. He values character, rarity, history and cultural energy.
Voewood House and Simon Finch
Buying Voewood in 1998
One of the defining chapters of his life began in 1998, when he bought Voewood House in North Norfolk. The house had lived several different lives before he took it on. It had been used as an old people’s home, had a period connected with NHS use, and had earlier served as a boys’ school.
Voewood was built between 1903 and 1905 and was designed by architect E. S. Prior. It is recognised as an important Arts and Crafts house, known for its individuality, craftsmanship, colour, materials and unconventional beauty.
Restoring an Arts and Crafts Landmark
Simon Finch brought Voewood back to life through a long restoration programme. The renovation took several years and required vision, patience and money. Restoring a house of this scale is not simply a building project. It is an act of cultural rescue.
Voewood became a home, a rare-books setting, an events space and a creative gathering place. Its rooms, gardens and architectural personality became part of Finch’s identity. In many ways, the house represents his taste: bold, eccentric, learned and full of character.
A House of Books, Art and Gatherings
Voewood has hosted artists, writers, musicians, collectors and guests from many creative circles. It has become known for weddings, parties, book events and cultural gatherings. The house suits Finch because it is not bland or ordinary. It has a strong personality, just as his work does. Voewood is central to understanding him. It is both a physical home and a cultural statement.
Simon Finch Age
Simon Finch was born on 18 March 1956. As of 2026, the British rare-book dealer, Voewood custodian and husband of Martha Fiennes is currently 70 years old today in England.
Simon Finch wife Martha Fiennes
Simon Finch is married to Martha Fiennes, the British film director, writer, producer and digital artist. She is known for directing Onegin and Chromophobia and for creating digital works such as Nativity and Yugen.
The couple celebrated their wedding at Voewood in 2023. He was 67 years old at the time of the wedding, while Martha Fiennes was 59. The celebration took place in the house that has shaped so much of his personal and professional life.
Their marriage brings together two creative worlds. Finch’s world is books, objects, architecture, history and English cultural hospitality. Martha’s world is cinema, writing, visual art and digital creativity. Together, they form a couple closely connected with art, ideas and heritage.
Voewood as a Shared Creative Home
After their marriage, Voewood became even more strongly associated with both of them. Finch and Martha Fiennes are linked with the house as custodians of its atmosphere and legacy. Their shared public presence brings together rare books, film, digital art and English country-house culture.
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Simon Finch Ex-Wife and Family Life
Simon Finch was previously married to Alexandra Blaker, also known as Alex Blacker. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1995. She has also been connected online with wellness, therapy, coaching, yoga teaching and sound healing. This earlier chapter remains part of his family story, especially because they share a son.
Jack Finch
Simon Finch has a son named Jack Finch. Jack has been mentioned by Simon in personal birthday posts and is part of his close family circle. Family remains an important part of Finch’s personal life, alongside books, Voewood and his marriage to Martha Fiennes.
Business Roles and Company Connections
Active and Former Companies
His business history includes Simon Finch Rare Books Limited, where he serves as director and secretary. He has also been connected with previous companies using the Simon Finch Rare Books name, including Holt and Voewood variations, as well as Monkeyman Limited.
These company roles reflect the practical side of a long creative and commercial career. Behind the charm of rare books and the glamour of Voewood sits decades of business activity, buying, selling, restoration work, client relationships and cultural entrepreneurship.
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Ownership and Control
Simon Timothy Keith Finch is the controlling figure behind Simon Finch Rare Books Limited, with major ownership and decision-making control. This confirms that the business is not simply named after him; it is directly shaped by his leadership and taste.
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Public Image and Cultural Style
Simon Finch has a distinctive cultural image. He is not only a dealer in old books. He is a figure connected with bohemian English style, high culture, counterculture and the revival of a great historic house. His world includes rare editions, eccentric interiors, artists, book collectors, country-house gatherings and creative friendships. This blend gives him a memorable place in modern British cultural life.
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Final Thoughts
Simon Finch has built a life defined by books, taste, restoration and cultural energy. From his first rare-book purchase as a child to his decades in the antiquarian trade, he has followed a path shaped by curiosity and confidence. His work with Simon Finch Rare Books, his restoration of Voewood House, his marriage to Martha Fiennes, his earlier marriage to Alexandra Blaker and his family connection with Jack Finch all form part of a rich personal story.
He stands as a rare-book dealer, collector, curator and custodian whose influence reaches beyond commerce. His legacy is tied to the preservation of books, the revival of Voewood and the creation of a cultural home where literature, art, history and personality meet.
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FAQs About Simon Finch
1. Who is Simon Finch?
Simon Finch is a British rare-book dealer, collector and curator. He is best known for Simon Finch Rare Books, Voewood Rare Books and his connection with Voewood House in North Norfolk, an important Arts and Crafts property.
2. How old is Simon Finch?
Simon Finch was born on 18 March 1956. As of 2026, he is 70 years old.
3. Is Simon Finch married?
Yes, Simon Finch is married to Martha Fiennes, the British film director, writer, producer and digital artist. The couple celebrated their wedding at Voewood House in 2023.
4. Does Simon Finch have children?
Yes, Simon Finch has a son named Jack Finch. Jack is part of his close family circle and has been mentioned in connection with Simon’s personal life.
5. Who is Simon Finch’s ex-wife?
Simon Finch’s ex-wife is Alexandra Blaker, also known as Alex Blacker. They divorced in 1995. Simon Finch later married Martha Fiennes in 2023.
