Who We Are
We are a team. Together, we devote most of our waking hours keeping this wonderful place going and wherever possible improving things while we do. With all our farm tenants, local residents and volunteers we enjoy a vibrant and invested community to keep this little part of Northumberland as special as it has been for hundreds of years.
Louise
Louise has been our Estate Coordinator since 2018. Apart from being central to the workings of the Estate across all the different areas she is incredibly efficient and ensures that the whole team runs as smoothly as possible. She rides motorbikes very fast and has a penchant for archery and dry stone walling. she is the key contact for anyone wishing to engage with Capheaton.
Woodland Team
We are incredibly fortunate to have over 500 acres of woodland to manage at Capheaton. Extensively broadleaf amenity woodland, we also have some more commercial plantations that provide timber for fencing materials, gates and joinery all used on the place. The woodland team’s remit reaches far beyond woodland management as they also ensure that the Hall and ancillary buildings are fuelled with biomass, carry out all manner of repairs and maintenance around the Estate and ensure that our private water supply runs smoothly. Fergus and Elliot are fundamental to how Capheaton looks and works.
Fergus
Fergus has been head woodman at Capheaton for over 30 years. His knowledge of trees and their management is second to none. However, it is his capacity for sorting out everything from burst pipes, dry stone walls, fences and gates that makes him a crucial cog in the Capheaton wheel. He is ridiculously fit and runs everywhere, often representing England (veterans) in cross country. As if he hasn’t enough to do, he is a great all round countryman and first class trainer of working spaniels.
Elliot
Elliot joined us in early 2024 and is number two in the woodland team. Having always had a passion for nature he had previously been involved at Capheaton with squirrel management. Aside from his interest in the countryside Elliot is a keen hockey player.
The Gardens
Over the last Century Capheaton Hall has seen years of neglect whether through war or simply lack of money. Strangely the garden and particularly the kitchen garden has never been allowed to deteriorate to the extent that so many other walled gardens have suffered throughout England. Happily the last 40 years have seen the gardens at Capheaton go from strength to strength and a passion for gardening and producing our own vegetables continues to be a key focus for the home team. Jane did much to improve the garden in her limited time here with Ryan continuing the work now, supported by Paul helping in the grounds and with our great team of volunteers anyone coming to Capheaton can enjoy an amazing spectacle and delicious produce.
Ryan
Ryan has been with us since he volunteered in 2020. He worked as an apprentice to Jane, our previous head gardener and has now been running the garden since April 2024. He has a great passion for plants and dahlias in particular as well as being deeply professional and competent with everything in the garden. However his greatest love is his fox red labrador, ‘Rosie’.
Paul
Paul has lived at Capheaton since 2016. Since his retirement from the Police he has become groundsman here and deals with the substantial amount of mowing and strimming required. Aside from his labours on the mower Paul loves live music and great food.