Some dates, some figures .... and a little history!

Macknade's roots delve right back to the pages of the Domesday book, where it is declared that in 1084 the Manor of Makenade was part of the possessions of Odo, the Bishop of Baiuex ... and we all know the importance that men of the cloth, especially French, place on all things gastronomic!

More recently, Macknade was farmed by the same family for well over 150 years, since 1847. At the turn of the century the principal crop at Macknade, as on many Kentish farms, was hops. However, this changed considerably throughout the 1900s, along with many other farming practices. Records show that in 1913 Macknade was made up of 116 acres of hops, 118 acres of fruit, and 162 acres of arable and grazing land. There were 54 regular workers, 104 seasonal workers and 35 working horses, as well as sheep, cattle and pigs.

The emphasis on hop farming was already diminishing in the early 1920s, and the final hop harvest took place in 1988. As farming began to mdoernise, the great working horses were replaced by machine and Peanuts, the last horse, died in 1955. With the arrival of the sixties livestock farming was phased out completely, changing the face of the farm dramatically.

By 1997 the acreage of fruit and arable had increased, and vegetables had taken the place of the traditional crop of hops.

The evolution of the original farm has come on still further, and the birth of the new millennium has seen Macknade, growing from its roots, immerse itself in the fine food sector.

Macknade Fine Foods

Macknade Fine Foods started life as 'Fir Tree Farm', a tent in 20 hectares of Pick your Own (PYO) crops! As the business built up a large shed was erected as the Farm shop, and more unusual fruit and vegetables were grown. Many people had their first sight here of mange tout, courgette flowers, asparagus-peas and yellow & purple raspberries, to name but a few.

More than 25 years on, with waning public enthusiasm for PYO Macknade Fine Foods moved to the heart of the original farm so that the shop could be developed as a centre for not only quality fresh produce, but for fine food as a whole.

Macknade has evolved into more than just a traditional 'farm shop' - you can still buy your sack of spuds and a bunch of carrots, but alongside you will find all manner or surprises - foods of which you may never have heard, and other for which you've been hunting for years!

For more information about Macknade Fine Foods in the 21st Century see 'culture'

You can also learn more about Macknade's history by watching our movie on Kent TV