ABOUT
Your hosts, Catherine and Graham, have travelled back in time from their previous home and business at Hornton Grounds, a formal Queen Anne house.
Mount Farm has a Motte and Bailey Castle in its back garden and the farm house dates from the 15th Century with later additions in the 16th and 18th centuries and is located in the valley of the conservation village of Ratley in the northern part of the Cotswolds and in an AONB. You can discover more about Motte and Bailey Castles here.
The 11th century Rose and Crown pub is a short walk away and the Castle Inn at Edge Hill is within walking distance.
The villages of Tysoe and Kineton are the nearest with Banbury, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwick and Leamington Spa all with in easy reach and offering a huge range of activities and facilities.
From Banbury, London Marylebone is just under 1 hour away by train and we are located between junctions 11 and 12 of the M40 motorway
ABOUT
CATHERINE & GRAHAM
Graham Vint grew up in Jersey on his father’s fruit farm with a small herd of Jerseys, after graduating from Seale Hayne in agriculture and completing a post graduate diploma in Farm Management he returned home to manage the family farm with his wife Catherine a fellow graduate of Seale Hayne. Together they developed the outstanding Tee Vee herd of pedigree Jersey cattle enjoying much success in the show ring and breaking a number of breed production records. After buying out his fathers business, they moved to larger premises near Southampton moving lock stock and barrel to farm on the edge of the New Forest and to be able to continue their passion of dairy farming and explaining about farming and food production to a wider audience. The Farm was opened to the public for over 60,000 visitors a year and specialised in exceptional quality educational visits for schools. The farm had a huge variety of different breeds of sheep, goats, poultry and pigs as well as their beloved pedigree Jersey cows.
The decision was made to leave farming in 2000 and follow new career paths. Graham became a member of the States of Jersey Police force winning the Chief Officers Cup in 2003.
After being made Farming Ambassador of the Year S.E. for the NFU in 2000 Catherine was appointed to the States of Jersey Government Agricultural Advisory Committee and served on Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society Council. Catherine was also very actively involved in the establishment of the geographic marque – Genuine Jersey, developing it from a membership of a dozen businesses to nearly a hundred diverse businesses from food producers to craft workers to brewers all earning the right to use the logo of Genuine Jersey.
Catherine has ridden all her life and was an active Pony Clubber up to B test standard but for many years has regarded herself as a happy hacker whilst her passion for cattle took up all hers and Graham's time.
Graham and Catherine have a keen interest in all elements of the countryside; Graham is good shot and has a sharp eye for birds. Both enjoy every aspect of food whether producing it or consuming it and as a Cordon Bleu Cook Catherine enjoys cooking it. Graham and Catherine have also been strong supporters of the Slow Food Movement, having been active organisers of the Jersey Convivium.