Original home of Clarence Court breeds on the market

The original home of Britain’s two most famous hens sold under the Clarence Court egg label has just gone on the market for £985,000.

Coach House Farm is where Philip and Janet Lee-Woolf developed The Old Cotswold Legbar and Mabel Pearman’s Burford Brown, which then set a trend which would change the way consumers view eggs.

In 2004 the Clarence Court business was sold and the couple, moved on to establish Legbars of Broadway, which breeds and supplies traditional chickens to homes throughout the UK.

“Selectively bred to make ideal pets, Legbars of Broadway hens lay thick shelled, dense textured eggs in a range of attractive colours and produce about 433 eggs over three years. The hens are not vaccinated and are guaranteed for 12 months against death or disease,” said Mr Lee-Woolf.

This year has seen the start of a postal hatching egg service to cater for the growing number of people who want to rear their own birds from reliable, quality breeding stock.

Demand for garden hens has grown at a phenomenal rate during the last 12 months as more people opt for growing their own food from the garden or allotment, and see domestic egg production as the easiest way to get started. Furthermore, they have the option of the superior quality eggs from old-fashioned breeds.

A loyal and growing following of customers return regularly to add to their flocks, he said.

Under the deal, it is envisaged that the purchaser will buy the house plus land and the Lee-Woolf’s will give a certain amount of stock to get the purchaser started. Then there will be negotiation on the needs to run the business and they are prepared to train up the purchaser for up to six months.

The property is on the market with Jackson-Stops & Staff, Chipping Campden office.