It all began around 1915 when Alfred Hinge from Bexley rented Horsham Marsh for sheep grazing. Already involved in the London markets with land in the Bexley area, the company later bought a substantial amount of land and farm workers cottages at Ham Green from previous owners Wakeley Brothers, Lieutenant Colonel Lumley-Webb and James Holloway during the period 1930 to 1950. This established A. Hinge & Sons as farmers in the parish. They also bought land in other parts of Swale.
During the 1940s John Hinge became the first family member to reside in the parish when he moved into Ham Green House and oversaw the business while still being involved with company outlets in the London markets. His son Richard later took over the daily running of the farm which consisted of fruit and mixed rotation farming. Richard gradually moved this towards cereal production. The company farm workers who were permanent employees were housed in tied cottages in the Ham Green area.
Robert Hinge and James Mair took over the running of the business in 1987. They ran the business together for a short period but then James departed leaving management in the hands of his partner. Robert had previously studied for a Higher National Diploma in Agriculture at Hadlow Agricultural College and had then gained farming experience in the United States and Australia.
Robert took over a farm with an old system of fruit trees that had not proven very profitable then the hurricane of October 1987 destroyed almost every orchard. Robert faced the challenge of rebuilding the business with new facilities and began planting modern fruit tree systems. This later led to the establishment of irrigation which allowed for better and constant crops and for cold storage which meant the markets could be provided with fruit over a longer period.
During the 1990s with a decline in the wholesale markets Robert began selling fruit through organisations such as Worldwide Fruit and Fruition and direct to supermarkets like Waitrose and Marks and Spencer which proved to be very successful.
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John Hinge with this year's crop of apricots.
Farm workers thinning apples.
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With difficulty finding reliable local labour, Robert began employing Eastern European workers from the early 1990s. He says. “At first we employed five or six for the fruit picking season and we put them up in caravans, now we have up to fifty from March to November working as tractor drivers, machine operators, supervisors and fruit pickers.”
Already a thriving business what does Robert think about the future?
“Life will become much faster. In the future we may take out manual labour, pruning and thinning and replace these with machinery which will increase output and efficiency. New varieties of apples and pears will also be developed.”
With dedication to his work Robert is also chairman of Fruition and a director of Worldwide Fruit and English Apples and Pears. Now in his fifties, he is assisted by his son John, who he hopes will eventually take over what has now become a very successful business and which has existed in his family for about a century.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
