Our Story

Kitchingham farm was first mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086 and was also listed as part of land acquired by Cardinal Wolsey in 1520, as part of his acquisition of assets during the period where he was widely considered to be England's richest man after King Henry VIII. Evidence exists of Kitchingham's use as an agricultural farm, in addition to being a site of iron extraction and smelting (c. 14-18thC.) and a hunting lodge (principally during Wolsey's tenure). Revenues from the estate were recorded as being part of the foundation gift that set up Christ Church College, Oxford (originally known as Cardinal College) founded in 1525. Kitchingham was returned to private ownership following the dissolution of the monasteries and the sequestration of Wolsey's assets after his execution in 1530. The Tudor oak framed farmhouse dates back to the 16th century and is Grade II listed.

Since coming into the ownership of the Halstead family in 1976, Kitchingham evolved from a mixed-use farm (cattle, sheep, pigs and arable) into purely a sheep operation. In 2020 Richard and Lulie Halstead took active control of the property from Richard's late father Sir Ronald Halstead. Having spent over 20 years working in the global wine sector, Lulie and Richard embarked on a new venture for building the legacy of their tenure of Kitchingham, planting 4.1 ha of Pinot Noir vines, with a further 1 ha of Pinot Noir Precoce added in 2022.

Over the course of the next 5 years, the intention is to expand the vineyards by up to a further 10 ha, whilst also undertaking regeneration plan, such as re-establishing existing hedgerows and repairing the existing agricultural buildings, creating more effective rainwater capture and undertaking extensive restoration of the 500 year old is farmhouse.