In the shadows of Oxburgh Hall in West Norfolk, you will find our herd of Large Black pigs.
Born and reared outside, the pigs are grown slowly and are free to roam in spacious paddocks which encourages their natural behaviour. Although rare today the breed is indigenous to East Anglia and the meat produced is renowned for being flavoursome with a succulent texture.
Owner, Robert Simonds comes from a background of commercial pig breeding but now continues the tradition begun by his great grandfather Dr Andrew Kay who first kept a herd of pedigree large blacks in his orchard at The Manor House, Blakeney in North Norfolk during the 1920s.
My grandmother Mabel recalls in her memoirs…
Scotts Field Pork is very much a family affair too. Robert’s wife Sarah and their two children Georgie & Paddy are all involved with looking after the pigs as well as their flock of Romney sheep and Dexter Cattle.
We do not sell our pork direct to the public but it can be found in the best butchers shops and on the finest restaurant menus throughout Norfolk, Suffolk and beyond.
‘My father was finding it hard to pay for our education so he grew apples and had a herd of pedigree black pigs which were a great success. We once brought up an orphan pig called Billykins in the house. He helped Shorter, our handyman-cum-chaffeur wait at table, we could hear them both coming down the corridor when we rang the bell’
