1884
When it all began...
The Self family came to Whitehall Farm, Lacock
in1894.The main produce from the Farm at that time was cheese there
were no milk factories as we know them today, but by the 30's milk was
being collected from the farm in churns, and farm cheese production had
ceased.
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1900's The Oldest Picture of Whitehall Farm,
Lacock |
A little history of Whitehall & Lacock |
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Most of our cereal
crops during the 40's were used
for cattle food. |
William Self |
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| Rowland Self worked with his father William on the farm. |
Lacock |
Lacock was founded on the wool trade, in
the High Street you can still see the large upstairs rooms in the houses where the hand looms were located.
Within living memory few sheep have been farmed
in North Wilts. The area being essentially dairy producing. |
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The
Self Family
Rowland married Phyllis, and had two children, the elder being
Christopher and the younger John. Christopher went into farming, but John into
horticulture, and John started the Garden Centre in 1972.
John changed his vocation and joined the
Church Mission Society, and at this point Mrs Phyllis Self and Christopher Self who ran the farm, then took over developing the garden centre, with his two sons
Peter and Mark, who both went to Lackham Agricultural College.
Peter then took over running of Whitehall Farm rearing both Aberdeen Angus and Texel Lamb.
Mark Self after studying at Pershore Horticulture College joined
what was by now an established Garden Centre in 1987 over
the Garden Centre.
Now the whole family is involved in running the Garden Centre. (three generations)
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| 1967 - A350 road construction and future
garden centre site |
1970
- Mrs Self with three of our very first customers |
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1972
- Ariel View, Whitehall Garden Centre, Lacock |
Mrs
Self busy watering plants. Picture taken in 1974 |
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1983
- Completion of the development at Lacock |
1983
- saw major expansion of the garden centre at Lacock
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1988
- Development of the till area and main shop at Lacock.
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1996
- Whitehall Farm changes the farming operation from dairy
farming and establishes our herd of Aberdeen Angus. |
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2000
- Whitehall diversifies into Tourism with the
Maize Maze summer attraction.
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2001
- Whitehall purchases the business of
Norton Nurseries at Whitchurch, Bristol. |
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2001
- The Water Garden franchise is purchased by
Whitehall Garden Centre |
2001
- Wild West Maize Maze at Lacock |
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2001
- The Garden Club is launched |
2001
- The introduction of Texel & commercial Sheep flock
Whitehall Farm Ltd |
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2002
- Established Whitehall Food Halls Ltd |
2002
- Established Whitehall Fresh Farm Ltd |
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2004
- Mrs Self opens the newly refurnished "Wild Poppy"
restaurant at Whitehall Garden Centre, Whitchurch. |
2004
- The restaurant at Lacock is purchased and
re-launched as the "Wild
Poppy" restaurant and is now operated by Whitehall Restaurants Ltd. |
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2004
-The "Wild Poppy" restaurant at Whitchurch
fully
operational April 2004 |
The New Whitehall Aquatic Centre opened on
Wednesday 7th March 2006.
Mrs Self cut the ribbon and customers
celebrated with Free Bucks Fizz. |
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New Reclaimed Oak Furniture Showrooms
opened in March 2007
Whitchurch |
New Reclaimed Oak Furniture Showrooms
opened in March 2007
at Lacock |
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Re-Vamp of Whitchurch Garden Centre including
150 Seater Restauant with lounge area - September 2007 |
Whitchurch Restaurant - re-vamp September 2007 |
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Craft Central opened at Whitchurch Sept 2007 |
Cotton Traders opened at Whitchurch Sept 2007 |
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Celebrating Mrs Self 100th Birthday |
Mrs Self 100th Birthday November 2007 |
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100th Birthday Cake |
Mrs Self being filmed - Camera crew from the BBC
greeting the customers at Lacock |
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June 2008 - Mrs Self awarded the MBE |
Today - Three generations of our family business |
