Sandhurst Farms Until the middle of the nineteenth century, Sandhurst was a scattered rural community, and much of the area was covered by farms. There were around a dozen farms around the village: most of the land has now been built over, but several of the old farmhouses remain. Ambarrow Farm, at the northern end of the parish, was particularly well known for its large dairy. (The Museum has some genuine Ambarrow milk bottles!) The farm at Owlsmoor eventually became the site for Sandhurst School, opened in 1969, after the dairy cattle had departed. The best known farm in Sandhurst has to be Rackstraw Farm (named, like many farms, after its former owners). This was a dairy farm up to around 1970, but then became the nucleus of a pub and restaurant complex, with the adjacent Premier Inn providing accommodation for visitors to Sandhurst.

This is just a small part of our information on the many farms that Sandhurst was formed around. If you need more information on these or any of the other numerous farms please contact us directly.

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Ambarrow Farm Dairy. At one time ninety six cows were being milked everyday on this farm and milk floats were delivering milk locally twice a day. There were no fridges so milk went sour quickly in warm weather.Circa 1950.

Harvesting the field near the Blackwater River with Ambarrow Farm in the background. 1887. The branches on the horses served to ward off the flies. Gravel pits now cover this area.

Over's Farm, Owlsmoor Road.1968. Now the site of Sandhurst comprehensive school. Former occupants named this farm 'Brooks Farm' and 'Watts Farm'.

Rackstraws Farm circa 1950.

Rackstraws Farm circa 1890?