In 1947, Jack and Joan Brookes moved to Gipsy Hall and started a Dairy herd of Ayrshire Cattle and Pig herd of Large Blacks. Eighteen years later, in 1965, Alan Brookes joined his father. 

Over time, the pigs were phased out as Alan had to give up time with them to take charge of the Ayrshire Cattle as it became difficult to find a good Stockman.

Gipsy Hall suffered a devastating fire in 1969, causing major damage to the cattle sheds and equipment. With no feed to last out the winter, there was no choice but to disperse the Dairy herd. A suckler herd of beef cattle evolved from the ashes to keep the business going.

Alan's interest in Charolais cattle from years before encouraged him to start a Pedigree herd in 1985, which quickly grew and saw success over the next 30 years.

In 2017, Peter Brookes finished his education and began work on the farm at 18, as his father, Alan, did before him. Working as an apprentice, he spent time at Moreton Morrell College to complete his agricultural qualifications.

It was decided in 2019 to finally withdraw from the Pedigree Charolais herd book following growing unhappiness with the direction of the breed.

The Gipsy Hall Pedigree Longhorn herd was founded in 2020 and rapidly expanded to 26 suckling Cows and 2 Bulls by 2022. 

The first step into the local consumer market started in 2023 when we sold 15 beef boxes to our local community, allowing us to create a unique product not found on supermarket shelves, low food miles with clear traceability straight back to the fields of Gipsy Hall.

We entered 2024 with our second round of Longhorn beef available with a new strategy that allowed us to double our customers and make it financially promising.