About Us
The Leedham family have been farming in the Tamworth area for five generations, the farm is predominantly arable, growing Wheat, Oilseed Rape and Oats, and makes hay from the historical permanent pasture at Syerscote Manor, which was once the site of a Medieval Village. The farm today is run by brothers Robert and Alan, with Robert's daughter Helen and Alan's son Edward. Robert and Alan's mother and father (Lucy and Robert) took on the tenancy at Syerscote Manor in 1955, and then bought The Dale in 1966 when it came up for sale.
Lucy and Robert met when Robert (senior) was farming Clifton Hall Farm, with his family, during the Second World War. Lucy had joined the Women's Land Army and was billeted to the next door farm, across the river from Robert, we understand he became quite the show off, when he spotted the pretty girl working next door and would spin his three wheeled tractor around quite quickly to attract her attention. He later felled a tree across the river, as a romantic gesture, and they married a couple of years later.
Robert (junior) and his wife Margaret live in the Bungalow at The Dale, they have two daughters Sarah and Helen. Robert is a keen collector of Vintage tractors and two of them are called Boston and Tiny take a look at them here. Robert is usually accompanied everywhere, by his black Labrador Gem. Robert will happily give you a tour of his tractors. Margaret helps Helen with the cottages and will be seen with Rocket a very amusing and friendly Jack Russell that never tires of chasing a ball.
Syerscote Manor is the home for Alan and his wife Anne, they have three children Oliver, Edward and Susannah. Alan is much more a modern tractor man, than his brother and during the autumn months he will be seen driving the tractors cultivating and drilling next years crops.
Helen is married to Rob (a popular name in these parts!), they live in the farmhouse at The Dale with their 3 dogs. Helen runs the holiday cottages, and during the farms harvest runs the grainstores and grain drier.
Edward lives with wife Emmie, at the farm at Clifton Campville. Edward is the combine harvester driver, so give him a wave as he passes the garden fence, you will also see him in the autumn months on the big tractors too.
Helen and Robert have really enjoyed working on the restored cottages, and hope you'll love their warm, cosy, country interiors and quiet surroundings in rural Staffordshire, a perfect location to enjoy a restful break. We are on hand to offer advice on local attractions to visit, places to eat, but are just as happy to leave you to enjoy a relaxing holiday here on the farm.
