Ditchfield Farm

Penketh Hall Farm

The building of Penketh Hall farm coincides with the building of the St Helens canal with an estimated completion date of 14th of August 1752.

The Farm is build on the site of the old Penketh Hall with a section of the front barns believed to be an old workers house.

Occupants of the original hall include Sir Thomas Penketh who is referenced in Shakespeare's play "Henry III".

It is not known the reason for the demolition of the Hall.

How Ditchfield Farm Started

Back in 1898, Two brothers ages 18 and 16 left their fathers farm in St Helens and started to rent Penketh Hall Farm from army captain Cook who lived at Sefton Hall.

Eventually the younger brother moved to a farm in Isle of Man and the elder brother bought the farm in the 1930's when Cook died without heirs.

Ditchfield Farm has since passed through 4 generations of Ditchfields over 127 years. The farm has taken on multiple types of farming including Rapeseed, Potatoes, Wheat, Barley and lamb.

However, since the start the farm has always reared cattle.

The Ditchfield's

The name "Ditchfield" is a place name that originates from the old Lancastrian area of Widnes. The area of Ditchfield was supposedly situated to the south of Houghton Green with Ditton to the east, divided by an area of marshy land. The only remaining evidence that can be found here is "Ditchfield road" off Hale road.

Evidently, we liked the area so much, we haven't left for almost 1000 years.

The farm is currently run by 4th generation farmer James Ditchfield, preceded by his father Keith, his grandfather James (Albert) and his great-grandfather James.