About Us

Our History

Dean House Farm, nestled in the heart of Newdigate, has been part of the Frost family story since 1952, when it was acquired by Mellard Frost. In those days, it was a traditional dairy farm, home to a pedigree, award-winning herd of Guernsey cattle.

In 1969, Mellard’s son Charlie Frost took over the day-to-day running of the farm after completing his agricultural studies at Merrist Wood Agricultural College. Under Charlie’s leadership, the farm began to evolve. Rather than relying solely on milk production, he and his wife Elaine diversified the business, becoming well known locally for Farmer Frost’s Cream and fresh eggs — delivered to shops and offices across Esher, Leatherhead, and Dorking, and sold directly from their farm shop.

However, changing times brought new challenges. The introduction of EU milk quotas and increasing pressure from large retailers on food prices meant that farmers needed to rethink their businesses to survive. Charlie was among the first in the South East to recognise these shifts in agriculture and took bold steps to diversify and future-proof the enterprise. That spirit of innovation and adaptability continues today, more than 55 years later.

In 1985, the Frost family built their first lake, marking the start of what would become the Fishery. What began as a single water has grown steadily over the decades. Today the farms are home to 10 established lakes, each with its own unique character, stocking, and level of challenge to cater for anglers.

Over the years, Charlie and Elaine expanded into commercial and residential property lets and began selling Christmas trees from their garden — a venture that grew steadily and now spans 20 acres of thriving festive woodland.

Charlie and Elaine’s son Christopher joined the business full-time in 1991, gradually taking on more responsibility and driving the farm’s next phase of development. He has been instrumental to the business, ensuring the farms continue to grow and thrive to a high standard.

Dean House Farm

Located in Newdigate, Dean House Farm spans 150 acres with a history stretching back more than 500 years. The farmhouse, built in traditional brick with a Horsham stone roof, has been lovingly restored in recent years. Local legend, even speaks of a tunnel (now filled in) said to have once linked the farmhouse to Newdigate Church, just 200 metres away. 

Over the years, Charlie and Elaine built their roots at Dean House Farm,  quite literally by building their family home, Longmeadow, with Chris as a young boy. It became the heart of family life and a symbol of their connection to the land they worked so passionately for.

Over the years, the Frost family have also expanded its land holdings:

Stammerham Farm

Acquired in 1982, Stammerham covers 100 acres and features charming Victorian buildings that have been carefully converted into offices over the past decades. The land is used for grazing sheep and horses and includes three lakes that are a popular fishing spot.

Greens Farm

Purchased in 1997 following the retirement of lifelong Newdigate resident John Coombes, Greens Farm spans 220 acres of farmland and woodland on the border of Newdigate and Capel. The farmhouse is a piece of living history — reputedly the second oldest Hall House in Surrey, dating back to 1309, just 240 years after the Domesday Book.

The traditional Hall House, with its original open-hearth design, has been meticulously restored in partnership with English Heritage. Archaeological work by Richard Harris of the Weald and Downland Museum uncovered a fascinating “spiritual midden” — a collection of old shoes, nails, and clay pipes once placed near the chimney to ward off evil spirits some which now feature in the Dorking Museum.

Today, Chris Frost continues to lead the farm, proudly upholding the family’s values of hard work, community, and respect for the land. Following Charlie’s passing in 2023, Elaine remains an integral part of the business, helping to keep the Frost family’s legacy alive and thriving for future generations.