Farming at Rowborough
The land has been farmed by the Smith family since 1930, with each generation building on the work of the last. Today, Ralph Smith represents the fourth generation, continuing the family’s long-standing commitment to farming.
In 1988, Ralph’s grandparents, Geoff and Rosmarie, moved to the Isle of Wight with their son, Neville then aged 24, and daughter Karen. Having previously been tenant dairy farmers on a small farm in Sussex, they brought sheep with them and began establishing a mixed farming system on the island, expanding into arable alongside livestock.
The next generation followed soon after. Ralph was born in 1999, and his sister Ella in 2002, both growing up immersed in farm life at the farmhouse.
Ralph became a partner in the business in 2019. After gaining valuable experience working on farms in New Zealand, he returned in 2022 to work full-time alongside his father. Farming is also a shared connection in his wider family, his partner Hayley’s family farm sheep and beef on the south coast of New Zealand.
About the Estate
Set within a quietly beautiful landscape, The Rowborough Estate is a family-run countryside estate where thoughtful farming, traditional shooting and a deep respect for the land come together.
Farmed by father and son, Neville and Ralph, the estate reflects generations of knowledge and a shared commitment to doing things properly with care, patience and an understanding of the land.
Whether visiting for a day’s shooting or simply discovering the estate, Rowborough offers an experience shaped by heritage, landscape and hospitality.
Also on the estate
The Shoot
Few sporting experiences rival the tradition and exhilaration of a classic English
driven shoot. At Rowborough, this heritage comes to life in the rolling landscapes of the Bowcombe Valley. The Estate offers a beautifully varied sporting landscape of woodland, farmland and natural valleys, providing the perfect setting for a traditional day in the field.