Authentic Glamping Experiences Since 2012

Little Halden Farm is a fantastic Glamping site which is situated in the Garden of England Kent. The farm is run and managed by the Hilder family, it is rich in heritage surrounded by wonderful country side and is the perfect place to come and stay if you’re planning a glamping or camping holiday in Kent.

‘Many of our guests will ask us about the farm and its history so we’ve taken the opportunity to tell you more about it right here.This small story will tell you more about Little Halden Farm and how it has become such a special place for our family. We want to thank everyone that continues to support the farm and we can’t wait to welcome you back to enjoy your next Glamping Experience in Kent.’
Jonathan Hilder

Little Halden Farm, a 5th Generation family run farm in Kent The Garden of England.

Before our family even arrived at Little Halden farm it was the birth place of Edgar Wilsher, the year was 1828 and little did anyone know that he would become a famous cricketer. He was instrumental in introducing over arm bowling into cricket. He played for Kent and was very successful taking over 1,300 first class wickets in his career.

Fast forward 22 years and Great Great Grandfather Robert Hilder moved to Little Halden Farm. Robert moved from a place called Etchingham in Sussex and became a full-time tenant of the farm. Robert had a son called George. George Grew up on Little Halden Farm and in 1900 ended up buying the farm outright.

Little Halden Farm was now owned by the Hilder Family

1914 saw the Great War and all three of George’s sons were involved in the war. In the second world war at Little Halden Farm a “V1” flying bomb, commonly known as a Doodlebug, fell into one of the fields on the farm. Luckily no one was hurt and the only damage was a large hole and the loss of all the tiles on the Kent Barn! There are still photos today that show the remains of the shell fragments and impact crater.

In the 1950’s Little Halden Farm Takes filght! OK well not quite, but actually this was the first aerial photograph that was ever taken of the farm. This was also the year that electric fans were installed into the Oast Houses to aid the drying process of the hops. The fans would help to move the warm air up through the Oast House.

In the 60’s technology continued to develop and improve and the farm acquired a ‘rotobank hop picking machine’. This bought an end to the hand picking of Hops.

1987 and Jonathan now joins the farm full time working alongside his father in the position ‘Driers Mate’. As the decade moved into the 90’s Jonathan really starts to take a handle of the business, he continues to manage the Hop Harverst and drying and the farm starts growing ornamental plants and selling them to independent garden centers.

In 2004 Little Halden Farm Grew and Dried its last ever Hop Harvest. This would bring to an end a tradition that had been ongoing for 154 years. The farm was now going in new directions. Planning was now underway to design something new that the farm had never seen before.

2012 Little Halden Farm Glamping was ready and open to the public.

Since opening the Glamping site it has evolved over the years and in 2022 we introduced our new amazing Pods and we look to welcome new and returning guests to Little Halden Farm for a unique Glamping Experience.

Little Halden Farm has evolved and developed through 5 generations and will continue to do so. We hope you have enjoyed this short story which outlines the development of Little Halden Farm.