Exhibit 23.2




                       Consent of Independent Accountants
                       ----------------------------------

The Board of Directors
Markel Corporation:


We consent to the use of our report dated March 28, 2002, relating to the
consolidated balance sheets of Terra Nova (Bermuda) Holdings Ltd. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the related consolidated
statements of operations, comprehensive loss, shareholder's equity, and cash
flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2001, and
the related financial statement schedules, incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.



/s/ KPMG Audit Plc
London, United Kingdom
April 12, 2002