Chilford Hall has been the home of the Alper family since 1965, when Sam Alper, designer of the famous Sprite caravan and founder of the Little Chef chain of roadside restaurants, bought the property with a view to creating an on-site conference, banqueting and cultural centre.

Chilford’s development from the mid 60’s reflected Sam’s interests in wine, sculpture and printmaking. Sam would regularly promote the wine by taking part in the Great English Wine Rally, driving samples of his wine to the George V Hotel in Paris in his 1930’S Phantom II Rolls Royce.

Architectural Gems
Sam was an accomplished amateur sculptor who began collecting work by Robert Lenkewicz and Helaine Blumenfield in the mid 1960’s.
He also had an interest in architectural salvage, snapping up pieces whenever great old buildings were demolished. The timber framed Winery building, for example where winemaking and bottling are currently carried out, was moved brick by brick from the nearby village of Linton in 1976.

The Art Connection
Links with the world of fine art were strengthened when the Chilford Hall Press was merged in 1989 with the world renowned Curwen Studio.
The Studio relocated to the Chilford Hall site and since 1996 has been an educational charity organisation for the teaching of print making.

Sam Alper died in 2002, leaving behind a rich legacy and a unique cultural centre, the perfect location for a thriving conference and banqueting centre.

Chilford Hall – A Very English Vineyard

By Ian Hornsey

Sam Alper OBE
Founder of Chilford Hall, vineyard and
conference centre
born 25 April 1924;
died 2nd October 2002

Wherever you go at Chilford Hall, you are greeted by sculpture, artefacts and architecture, Walking the peaceful grounds reveals sights of surprise, beauty and relaxation.
Links with the world of art were strengthened in 1989, when the existing Chilford Hall Press was merged with the world renowned Curwen Studio when it moved to its present site at Chilford Hall. It continues to work with artists on a collaborative basis in the production of fine art original printmaking. This operation specialises in lithography with a heritage over many years of printing for Henry Moore, John Piper, Barbara Hepworth, John Lennon and many others. Today the studio now concentrates on limited-edition lithography, numbering among its artists H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, Paula Rego, Kyffin Williams, R.B. Kitaj and Rolf Harris.
To complete the circle of maintaining historical skills and the pursuit of excellence the Cambridge Curwen Print Study Centre, an educational charity, was established in 1996 to afford the opportunity to all who have an interest in fine arts to express their skills in an atmosphere of creativity and support.

Just down the Cambridge road from Haverhill lies Chilford Hall, the site of one of the more successful of the well-established English vineyards. Founded over thirty years ago, the vineyard and winery form part of a larger enterprise that includes one of East Anglia’s leading conference and banqueting facilities.

The internationally famous vineyard at Chilford Hall, was originally laid out in 1972 with further planting between 1974 and 1976. Currently it has 18 acres in production.

Award-winning pink and white wines are produced, both in still and sparkling styles, Winemaking and bottling are carried out in the timber-framed winery building, which was moved from the village of Linton in 1976 prior to its demolition thereby protecting a classical heritage building.
The purpose-built cellar features pillar-facings from the Long Bar at Waterloo station also saved from destruction by the foresight of Sam Alper, the founder.

Originally a farm, the oldest building at Chilford Hall is the Little Barn, built in the early 1700’s. The Great Hall is a Grade II listed building dating from 1820 and the house itself was constructed in 1840.

Chilford Hall is set in 40 acres of rolling Cambridgeshire countryside and has been the Alper family home since 1965. An ambitious building and restoration project has transformed it into one of East Anglia's leading conference and banqueting centres.

Chilford Hall has benefited from many improvements and changes over the years. The Great Hall has been tastefully refurbished and is lined with an extensive collection of agricultural artefacts. An art Gallery was added in 1971, and in 1997 major alterations were made to the Pavilion which now boasts subtle lighting, elegant décor and 7,500 square feet (696 sq. metres) of uninterrupted space, making it the largest dedicated exhibition space in East Anglia.