• leatonestateoffice@leatonforest.co.uk

About Leaton Forest

Leaton Forest sits within the beautiful 1,500-acre Leaton Knolls Estate near the historic market town of Shrewsbury. Sitting on the banks of the River Severn and surrounded by ancient woodland and abundant wildlife, Leaton’s qualities make it one of Shropshire’s most notable woodland Estates.

Best known for our Christmas experience, we offer premium Christmas trees, wreaths, decorations, wreath-making workshops, and a festive Christmas Fair featuring arts and crafts from local artisans.

Visitors can choose a pre-cut tree or cut their own from our plantations, making the experience a memorable day out for the whole family.

We also provide sustainably sourced firewood and logs year-round, with local delivery available, alongside a selection of residential and commercial properties to rent set in beautiful and tranquil settings across the Estate.

Meet The Team

Hon. Charles Bridgeman

LIFE TENANT

The Leaton Knolls Estate (historically known as the Leaton Knolls and Preston Gubbals Estates in the County of Salop) was purchased and transferred into a Trust in 1947 by the late Earl of Bradford. His youngest son, Charles, was made a Life Tenant of the Estate in 1976 and manages the Estate with the assistance of the Trustees and professional advisors. 

Charles holds a Degree in English & American Literature from Warwick University and a National Certificate of Agriculture from Walford College. He also gained a Diploma in Rural Estate Management in 1990 from The Royal Agricultural University of Cirencester. 

After working as an assistant land agent at Carter Jonas Bridgnorth, he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor, Rural Practice, in 1993. Since then his energies have been concentrated on managing the Leaton Knolls Estate and developing the businesses based on the Estate.

James Bridgeman

CONSULTANT

James Bridgeman is an executive coach and facilitator who runs a Learning & Development and coaching business working with FTSE-100 corporate clients, as well as SMEs, charities and non-profits. He spent 20 years working at the BBC across journalism, TV and radio production and digital services. He is passionate about the power of working in nature to stimulate innovative thinking and develop relationships in teams, and has a strong interest in sustainable land management.

Richard Dowman

ESTATE MANAGER

Richard came to work on the Estate in 2010 and is now Estate Manager. He oversees all the practical work on the Estate.

He is responsible for running the Christmas trees, forestry and the conservation schemes on the Estate as well as managing the Estate’s flock of Shropshire Sheep.

Trevor Garside

ESTATE WORKER

Trevor joined us in 2014 and has since then has played a big part in the following estate enterprises: forestry, Christmas trees, fencing, maintenance, firewood production on the Estate, as well as many other things.

Angela Gwilt

FINANCE MANAGER

Angela grew up on a mixed farm at Halfway House.

She is a qualified farm secretary and joined the Estate team in 1996. She looks after all the financial aspects of the Estate and has seen the Estate diversify and grow over the years.

History of Leaton Forest

The mansion house for the Leaton Knolls Estate was built in 1837 by local master builder Edward Haycock to a design by Francis Lloyd, inspired by a trip to Tuscany, who was described as his own ‘Vitruvius‘ ( a Roman Architect).  Francis  was the captain of the Harrow School first 11 in cricket. 

The house was faced in ashlar Grinshill stone. It was unusual in that the ground floor was protected from the sun by a stone Doric colonnade. It was massively extended in the early 1900s with a substantial wing clad in rather severe Ruabon red brick.

Converted into 10 flats after WWII, it was believed to have been used as accommodation for returning ex-servicemen. 

The Lloyd family lived in the house until General Lloyd died and the family moved to Gloucestershire.

There is no principal residence at Leaton Knolls after the house was demolished in 1955 by the late 6th Earl of Bradford. The site for the original house is on private land with no right of access. The stables which were built in the early 1900s are still standing and have been converted into cottages.

The current owner, the Honourable Charles G O Bridgeman, resides on the Estate and has plans to build a new main residence for the Estate.

Leaton Knolls and the Community

The Leaton Knolls Estate has provided land for the Bomere Heath Cricket Club and continually looks to be of benefit to the local community.

The Leaton Knolls Estate gives strong support to Holy Trinity Church, Leaton. A fine and inspiring church with a tall spire, built in 1850 by celebrated architect Pountney Smith. The grandeur of this church did not go unnoticed when Nikolaus Pevsner carried out his survey of ‘the buildings of England’. The church was built from Grinshill sandstone, quarried locally.

Holy Trinity Church forms the focus for an active church community and services are held there on nearly every Sunday starting at 10:45.  Further information on the church and church services can be found on the Holy Trinity Church’s website.

Fishing at Leaton

Leaton Forest is fortunate to have one and a half miles of the River Severn meandering through its land. The river is regularly fished for Barbel, Chubb, Roach and Dace. 

If you are interested in fishing these beautiful peaceful riverbanks, just three miles from Shrewsbury, then please contact Alan Garbett for further details about membership and fees on 07961 281 026 or visit the website.