Can you smell that sweet, earthy scent of hay in the crisp London air? You are standing where generations of Londoners once came to enjoy a taste of the country in the heart of the city. Welcome to College Farm. Its red-brick farm buildings, with their five gables, rise gently up a slope, a reminder of a time when this area was farmland.
Built in 1883 by Sir George Barham, founder of the Express Dairy Company, College Farm was a beacon of modernity. It was a model dairy farm, designed by renowned architect Frederick Chancellor, to show the dairy industry the importance of hygiene – something that was not a high priority back then, especially in London dairies.
But College Farm was more than just a dairy farm. It was a popular destination for Victorian families. They came to see the Guernsey, Shorthorn, and Kerry cattle, the four Shire horses, and witness the daily routine of the farm. Tourists from around the world came to marvel at the clean and healthy environment that the Express Dairy cows lived in, and to observe firsthand the dairy industry’s innovative methods.
College Farm even had its share of excitement. One of its most famous moments was the “Finchley Murder” of 1898, when the head cowman, Thomas Webb, was shot dead. The case was investigated by Scotland Yard, but the killer was never found.
Through the years, College Farm has been a testament to the changing landscape of London, from its bustling agricultural past to its urban present. Today, the farmland is smaller, but the charm of the red-brick buildings endures. College Farm has been transformed into an equestrian and pet store, a hub where Londoners gather to shop for their animal companions. Though the cows are gone, the spirit of College Farm lives on in the hearts of those who remember its rich history. Take a moment to appreciate the quiet legacy of this special place, a slice of the countryside frozen in time amidst the bustling city.