looking after eaton manor for 90 years
2024 marks 90 years of the Madeley family looking after Eaton Manor!
Nichola and Julian (Eaton Manor’s owners) are the 4th generation of Madeleys to live at Eaton Manor and run the family business, with the support of their father, Tony. The 5th generation are also now growing up here.
To mark this incredibly special year, Eaton Manor is joining forces with local charity, Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, as they are celebrating their 45th year of supporting patients living with cancer in our local community.
A special birthday lunch is being held at Eaton Manor on Sunday 17th November 2024, with all proceeds going to Lingen Davies Cancer Fund, for which tickets are now available to buy here.
A bit of history…
In 1934, Joseph & Elizabeth Madeley (Nichola and Julian’s Great Grandparents) moved to Eaton Manor, with their dairy herd, as tenant farmers on the Sparrow Estate.
They had 9 children, all of whom were alive at their 60th wedding anniversary!
Their youngest son, Dennis, took on the tenancy in the late 1940s with his wife Hilda, continuing with dairy farming, and in the mid-1950s they were able to buy Eaton Manor from the Sparrow Estate.
Tony, their son (Nichola and Julian’s Father) then joined the business in his early 20s. He married Janet in 1964 and together they ran the farm business for many years.
The dairy business continued until 1983 and then Tony developed a beef herd, in particular Hereford Heifers, which he continued until 1999.
Arable crops were introduced on the farm in the 1970s and this is an area that Julian took an interest in growing up and working on the farm.
In the meantime, Tony & Dennis had started commercial egg production in the late 1960s, with Nichola joining this business in 1985 when they created the brand, Nicks Chicks. This continued right through until 2008, when the family decided to close this side of the business.
Since then Nichola and Julian have primarily focussed on arable crops and the holiday accommodation business, which they began in 2001.
Today, Nichola runs the award-winning holiday accommodation and wedding/events venue, with her husband John, and their dog, Moose, in the maintenance department! Tony also still enjoys helping out with the business.
Julian and his wife Adrianna live on the estate with their two boys, Max & Wil. Julian manages the estate land, together with a separate business, and Adrianna provides Wellness Treatments to guests and locals in the tranquil surroundings of her Wellness Studio on the estate. Max and Wil keep some chickens and supply holiday guests with free range eggs.
Eaton Manor – Then & Now
Scroll through some Madeley family photos…
Everything you’ll ever need
We pride ourselves in helping you organise your special event or celebration, be it a milestone birthday, reunion, anniversary or simply an excuse to get together with friends and family. There is so much to enjoy on the Estate as well as exciting activities and guest services - and if you have a particular activity in mind please let us know and we will try to source it locally for you.
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