Our History
The Leen has been in the Smith family for almost 100 years and is now run by the Norman Partnership; the family of the late Frank Smith. The Norman Partnership consists of Tony & Barbara Norman (Frank Smiths daughter) their two sons and their wives – Rich & Pip and Chris & Sarah.
The Leen is situated a mile outside the Black & White village of Pembridge, in the heart of the North Herefordshire countryside. Timbers in the farmhouse and farm buildings date back to the 13th and 17th centuries respectively, both are mentioned in the Doomsday Book; but its history goes back further to an ancient dyke across the farm dated to the 7th century.
There is evidence (from flints) that the farm has been managed for many thousands of years, with archaeological digs showing 4000-year-old field boundaries overlain with Romano British farming and that again built over by an ancient monument known as The Rowe ditch (similar construction to Offa’s Dyke) built around the 7th century.
The Hereford herd on the farm was founded in 1780 and during the 19th century became one of the leading exporters to the USA and elsewhere around the world. This herd was managed on the The Leen by the Turner family until the farm and the herd were bought by the Smith family in 1919. Barbara Noman still manages a small herd of horned Herefords today.
