Home Farm
Residents: Brian & Jennifer [nee Archer, formerly Travers-Macy] & Alice Aldridge

Home Farm’s origins date as far back as the 18^th century. The current farmhouse, situated on the ancient foundation stones of Lyttleton Manor, is the largest farm and farmhouse in all of Ambridge. Covering over 1,600 acres of land, the present owner, Squire Brian Aldridge, grows mostly arable crops. Some of which include cereals, rape, linseed, sugar beet, peas, strawberries and grass. He also farms over 600 ewes and 100 hinds.

In the late 80’s Brian decided to diversify Home Farm. He had a man made lake built for fishing and developed a 35 acre riding course that is open to the public but requires a usage fee. You can access the riding course from the road to Penny Hassett.

Shortly after World War II, the large farmhouse was owned by Ralph Bellamy and called Ambridge Court. During that time, it was converted into flats for some of his help working on the Berrow Estate. However come 1975 and failing health, Ralph sold it to Brian when he left Ambridge for Guernsey.

After the acquisition, Jennifer Travers-Macy [nee Archer] helped Brian in restoring the farmhouse back to its single occupant stature. It was during this year that Jennifer’s marriage was dissolved thus freeing her to marry the Squire – which they did on May 29^th, 1976. Together, the pair set out redecorating the interior and collecting various pieces of expensive furniture more akin to the stately fashion the Squire was accustomed to. Three years later, they had a solar-heated swimming pool installed - which to this day is still the talk of the village. In later years, Jennifer has had the dining room and a sitting room redecorated with the help of Sean, a master craftsman and former co-owner of The Cat and Fiddle.

Located on Harm Farm are three farm worker’s cottages called The Rookeries. Converted to holiday cottages and let during the summer months, Home Farm has offered guests the idyll country setting. Back in 2001, one of the cottages was occupied by Brian and Jennifer’s eldest daughter Kate. However, Kate’s on-off ramblings around the country with travellers and eco-warrior protestors had the cottage vacant most of the time. Jennifer always refused to let it out so that Kate always had a place to call and come home to. In 1997, Kate returned for a brief sojourn and became pregnant after a short affair with [then] local racist thug, Roy Tucker. She initially denied Roy paternity and in 1998 set off travelling again once her baby was born.

A paternity battle ensued. She and the baby [still unnamed] attended the Glastonbury festival and stayed in a tee-pee. After a few months on the road, Kate arrived back in Ambridge with her baby named Phoebe and relented in the war over the child’s paternity. Soon Kate’s wanderlust resurfaced and in 1999 she left The Rookeries and set off for Africa, thus leaving Phoebe with her mother Jennifer, father Roy and Roy’s then girlfriend, Hayley Jordan.