About Us
John Carrick is currently the senior partner in the family farming partnership of Carrick and Son, who manage Castle and Park Farms in the parish of Swanton Morley, in central Norfolk.
Both farms were originally part of the 7000 acre Bylaugh Estate which was sold in 1919. Brian Carrick, John's father, purchased Castle Farm in 1929. Park Farm, immediately to the south was purchased in 1946.
The total area farmed is now 720 acres, 450 being arable, currently all combinable crops, wheat, oilseed rape, winter beans, spring barley, and 260 acres of permanent grassland. There is a small acreage of rough grazing and woodland.
White Park Cattle
A 100-cow suckler beef herd, including a herd of 38 pedigree rare breed White Park cattle, utilise the grassland, much of it adjacent to the River Wensum which forms the northern boundary.
Diversification
Following Brian Carrick's death in 1972, John embarked upon a programme of setting up a number of new enterprises, long before the word "diversification" had entered every-day agricultural parlance. These enterprises utilise farm buildings which were no longer suitable for modern-day arable and livestock farming.
They include:
- Hunter's Hall Offering 4 Star Bed and Breakfast, Conferences, Farm Camping and Wedding venue for function up to 250 covers.
- Peggy's Pantry Tea Shop is the perfect place to relax with a cup of Tea and a slice of delicious homemade cake.
- Caravan and campsite is open all year round. Advance bookings taken. Dogs welcome.
- Darby's free house and restaurant a unique traditional family freehouse offering something for everyone.
- Farm butchery seeks to satisfy a growing public demand for top quality, fresh, traceable food, produced with minimal environmental impact.
- Carrick's at Castle Farm 5 star Guest House located on the banks of the River Wensum in the parish of Swanton Morley.
- Butcher Shop, general store and post office in the village
- 15 letting bedrooms to 4 and 5 star EET standards.