Menchine farm operates three sites of free-range and higher welfare broiler chickens alongside a beef finishing unit on a neighbouring farm and a free-range egg unit. We pride ourselves with our sustainable credentials and beliefs, this is backed up by our onsite Biogas Plant where we use the litter collected from chicken sheds and FYM from the cattle to feed the plant. Alongside farming around 400 acres of arable land which grows a mixture of arable and grassland which is all used by the AD plant or as animal feed.

History

The earliest record is from the Domesday Book of 1086, when Menchine was
referred to as Bradeforda; the property had borne the name Menchine Bradford, but
the second part of the name is never used now. “William de Faleise has a manor
which Brungar held on the day on which King Edward was alive and dead, and it
rendered one ferling and a half. This ferling and a half can be ploughed by one
plough. There William has one villain, and one plough and two acres of meadow
and it is worth by the year five shillings and it was worth as much when William
received it.” Geld was a tax first raised for the Danish wars, at a number of pence per
hide. A hide was around 120 acres, although sometimes it could be as much as 240
acres; the Domesday areas were not based on measurement, but upon the amount
of tax paid. A ferling was probably a quarter of a hide. Bradford was in a hundred
held by the nuns of Polsloe; a Benedictine nunnery dissolved in 1539.

1243 the prioress of Polsoe is still recorded as “holding Bradford in lordship in pure
alms. Roger of Munchenland holds Muchendland and Bradford for x shillings per
annum in socage (a form of land tenure in the feudal system), and herself in pure
and ancient alms.”
1628 an inquisition post mortem (IPM) (an English medieval record of the death,
estate and heir of one of the king’s tenants-in-chief, made for royal fiscal purposes)
was taken In Exeter on the death of Thomas Cutcliffe in November, who owned
Ninchin Bradford in Witheridge.
1637 The IPM for Charles Cutcliffe, who died 26th October 1637, also owned
Myncham Bradford, Witheridge. Deeds dated 1787 and 1785 of two cottages in
Nomansland on the edge of the Menchine property go back to Chas. Geo. Cutcliffe,
son of John Cutcliffe who was great grandson of Charles who died in 1637.
1780 From the Land Tax records East and West Minchine was occupied by William
Elworthy.
1781 The Land Tax records begin to show owner and occupier, the owner was John
Elworthy and the occupier William Elworthy.
1782 John Partridge owns and William Elworthy continues to occupy East and West
Minchine.
1783 John Partridge is now owner occupier.
1818 The Land Tax records now refer to Minchine, the East and West designations
have been dropped. The owner occupier remained the same until the last of the
Land Tax records in 1841.
1854 John Partridge dies; from his will the main beneficiary was his son James Hill
Partridge. His wealth may be gauged by the fact that his three daughters, Betsy,
Mary and Sarah received £800 each and were assigned the lease on property in
Witheridge.
1862 On 21st February Minchine Barton and Westaways was advertised for letting by
tender for a term of 10 or 14 years. This was followed on 18th June by an
advertisement in the Exeter Flying Post for the sale by public competition of
Minchine Barton, described as being on the turnpike road leading from Tiverton to
Witheridge.
1863 Chas. John Cutlcliffe (son of Chas. Geo.) and John Lane Cutcliffe sold the
cottages to George Cutcliffe.
1873 The cottages were sold again to Thomas Elworthy Adams of Providence Place,
Witheridge.
1869 The Tiverton Gazette dated 8th June reported that William right, formerly a
cattle drover, but now a private in HM 8th Regiment of Foot, was in custody charged
with stealing at Knowstone a sheep, the property of E B Clark of Baples Barton. Mr
Clark had found his missing sheep in Mr Webber’s flock at Menchine Farm. Mr
Webber had hired Bright to drive home 8 sheep from the Barnstaple Fair. Nine
sheep were delivered and Bright asked Webber to buy the extra one, which he said
he had from Mr Notion from Witheridge for half a crown. On checking Webber found
no Mr Notion and called the police. Bright was committed for trial at the next County
Quarter Sessions in July where the same evidence was produced; the jury found
William Bright not guilty.
The Tiverton Gazette of 21st December, reported on South Molton Petty Sessions
where George Cruwys of Witheridge summoned his master, Mr John Webber of
Minchine Farm, for a sum of 14s and 3d due for wages. Webber claimed that
Cruwys had been injured larking about, but his fellow servant Thomas Bristol said
Webber wanted to get rid of Cruwys. The Justices made an order in Cruwys’ favour
for 13s and 10½d and costs.

1881 Census records Emma Webber (widow) as head of Menchine and farmer of
165 acres. Five children were also recorded as resident at the time.
1901 Henry Rowcliffe is listed in the census as “cattleman on farm”, living at
Menchine Farm with his wife and children.
1917 The widow of Thomas Elworthy Adams sold the cottages to Wm. And A G
Ayre.
1923 – 1939 From directories Edwin Cole was farming Menchine. It is believed
Edwin was a tenant of his aunt from about 1904.
1958 Roy Cole bought Menchine, initially with pedigree Devons taken on from
Edwin, but they became smaller and the switch was made to “black and
whites”. Sheep and around 200 hens were also kept on the farm. During the 1950s
mains water was installed.
1962 Mains electricity was installed.

Aerial photo early 1960s