Leslie and Sarah Legge came to Shortwood in 1903 with their children - John, Nancy & Ruth. Before embarking upon a career in farming, Leslie had been a miller at Ham Mill - near Martley in Worcestershire. At the time of their arrival, Shortwood was covered with scrub and woodland, so Leslie - with the help of a bullock and a horse - set about clearing and cultivating the land.

In 1916, John married Beatrice Thomas. Their family of 17 is well known in and around the Bromyard area as most of them are involved in farming in one way or another. John - who drank cider for breakfast, lunch, tea and supper - is remembered for his great physical strength. He would carry a plough over his shoulder to prevent the sharp points from being worn down by cobblestones, and could also manage a 2 hundredweight bag of corn under each arm as he climbed the steps to the granary. His voice was reputed to have been just as strong as his body. During the war - when a bomb discharged by an enemy bomber (which was being chased and therefore needed to lighten its load) knocked the end off the house of the neighbouring farm, he shouted across the fields to inquire if everyone was all right. Luckily no-one was badly hurt.

• A traditional type of plough, perhaps similar to one that would have been used at Shortwood Farm
  

During the war years, it became apparent that a larger farm was required to support the family. John got the chance to rent Butterley Court at Thornbury. At his interview, when asked how he would manage for agricultural labour, he replied that he had bred his own - five of whom had already left school, with another five approaching adulthood. This helped him to secure the tenancy.

When the family moved to Thornbury, Edward - the eldest son - stayed on at Shortwood. David (Edward's second son) and his family now live at and run Shortwood farm.

Exhibition Area

Our unique collection of photographs and memorabilia tell the story of  farming at Shortwood from 1903 to today. Find how 5 generations of the family have adapted to change as farming methods have progressed with the introduction of electricity, mechanisation and computerisation.

Learn about:
Organic farming at Shortwood
How we run our dairy herd
Some of the rules and regulations of 21st centaury farming
How our open farm has developed
Wild life on the farm
Some of the challenges that we face

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