Berkyn Manor Farm, Horton

The Rayner Family have farmed in Colnbrook and Horton for nearly 400 years. At their height their farms had 200 head of beef cattle and 8 multi-suckling cows to breed calves and suckle purchased calves. There were also up to 2,500 fattening pigs – predominantly for Walls bacon, sausages and pies – with a sow unit of between 80 and 120 purpose bred animals.

On the arable side, 40 acres were devoted to potatoes and 120 acres for market garden produce for London markets, hotels and restaurants. In return, pig swill was collected from the hotels and restaurants - so that the pigs fed on the best! Other land grew corn and other crops for animal feed.

All this required a substantial labour force: 30 full-time and many part-time staff were employed.

Times change, however, and the deteriorating economic situation for farming necessitated retrenchment. From the late seventies Rayners farming was concentrated in Horton where the Manor Farm had been bought in 1945.

To make matters worse, the 1972 outbreak of Swine Vesicular Disease meant that all the pigs had to be slaughtered and burnt. Then in 2002 the Foot and Mouth crisis restricted all movements on and off the farm

Today farming is limited to arable crops, including "set aside" land. Three of the Company Directors have served around 50 years each and four of the staff have been employed by the family of over 200 years between them.

Reference: Rayner Family website (with permission)
© STEAM 2005