The farm is a recent arrival in historical terms.                     

The 1st Earl of Ilchester was Chancellor of the Exchequer to King George III. He was granted or bought various lands, but his seat was at Redlynch House (ST698331).

He built The Towers (2 km south-east of Redlynch) when he invited the King to stay. The house, The Aviaries, was put up to give a respite for shooting parties as they walked round the estate - no Landrovers in those days!

The Aviaries and three acres of woodland were enclosed within a brick wall. Within the wall, pheasants and partridge were raised for shooting.

The farm came later, and Oliver's father became tenant in 1954. He bought it in 1968, together with The Towers and The Aviaries, when the estate was sold.

The Towers are listed and need about £100,000 to restore them and protect their future for the next hundred years. Grant aid for such restoration work is meagre. Most must be funded through farming profitably.