Brookfield Farm residents: David, Ruth [nee Pritchard], Pip, Josh & Ben Archer

Located in the centre of one of Ambridge’s four medieval fields – Brook Field – stands a sixteenth century brick and timber farmhouse that has housed the Archer family since the late 1800’s. In 1917, 21-year-old Dan Archer took over Brookfield from his father John Archer. Since then, the 100-acre farm has grown to 450+ acres under the patriarchal tutorage of Phil Archer – second son of Dan and Doris [nee Forrest] Archer.

Phil, who inherited the farm in 1986 after his father death, saved the farm from the taxman and began the family tradition of mixed farming.

In 2001, Phil and his second wife Jill [nee Patterson] retired and relinquished the farmhouse to their third eldest child, David Archer who now resides there with his wife Ruth [nee Pritchard], daughter Phillipa (Pip) and sons, Joshua (Josh) and Benjamin (Ben). David’s siblings: Shula, Shula’s twin Kenton and sister Elizabeth were all raised in the farmhouse.

Best-known feature in the Brookfield farmhouse under the reign of Jill Archer was the Aga with its always-on-the-boil kettle and homemade cakes. Now however although the Aga survives, Ruth is more likely to produce a meal in the microwave.