45 years ago, as a young couple with a small daughter, the first thing we thought on viewing Broadhembury Farm was “We’d love it, but could never afford it” however, we both became determined to make Broadhembury our home.
At that time Broadhembury consisted of a 4 bedroom house, 3 chicken sheds housing a total of 2000 laying hens, an egg round, various pigsties and other old ramshackle barns and sheds. There was also 10 acres of sheep meadows where campers put up their tents.
Payment of 5 shillings (25 pence) for one night’s camping was made at our kitchen door. Water was drawn from the sheep trough, and toilets emptied into the manhole.
Three of our bedrooms accommodated bed & breakfast guests whenever possible, and fortunately the campers arrived every summer. There really was so much to do, but we were never without the help of family, friends and brilliant neighbours.
Everyone was ready to help us, doing anything from grading eggs, laying paths and driveways to babysitting, making our work load so much easier and enjoyable.
After 5 years of hard work trying to produce pork and eggs with little reward, we decided that running a camping park was a much better idea than farming, and so the gradual progression towards Broadhembury Holiday Park as we know it today, began.
Through the years that followed Broadhembury Camping & Caravan Park went from strength to strength. We knew little of camping or caravanning, never having done it ourselves, and worked on the principle of providing facilities we would be happy to use ourselves. We began by building 3 toilet cubicles (one even had hot water!) and started to seriously market Broadhembury as a camping park.
We are extremely privileged to own Broadhembury, and to be involved in the holiday industry. Each day brings new visitors from all over the world, ready to have a good time. We have always benefited from the fantastic support of excellent staff, some of whom have been with us since those very early days.
Broadhembury today
Broadhembury Caravan and Camping Park is now a 5 star camping park, welcoming visitors from all over the world. As member of “The Best of British” camping parks, we have a lot to live up to.
We have a 5 acre Family Park with playgrounds, sports field, football pitch and sports field, and games room; 5 acres of country meadows for adults camping without children, who prefer a little more quiet; a shop and laundry. Both camping areas have centrally heated toilets and showers, and full facilities for people with mobility problems or disabilities. Our Reception staff are specially trained to help you get the very best out of your stay and will be more than happy to help you plan your break.
Broadhembury is proud to have won many awards through the years. We recently won an award for the Best Leisure and Tourism Business in Kent; AA best park – regional winners; Top 100 Parks and Loo of the Year awards.
Like anyone else our age, we look back and wonder where the past 45 years have gone, and then we remember all the happy times and wonderful experiences we have had. We look forward the years ahead, and always remember how lucky we have been.
Our daughters Doina and Sally have always taken a great interest in the camping park that they have grown up with, and has been such a big part of their lives. Sally and her Partner Lee now manage Broadhembury, leaving us free to enjoy more leisure time while still taking an active interest in the business.
This year we celebrate 45 years at Broadhembury. Still happy, still healthy, still working and still prosperous. Tourism really is a good business to be in! Why not visit us in 2014 and experience for yourself what Broadhembury is all about?
