About Us

Historic Herbs  began in our back garden in 1997 with a few packets of seeds.  Since then what began as a hobby has grown into a family business and in 2002 we relocated to Halfpenny Green Vineyards. 

Naturally Grown Herbs

All our herbs are grown using natural techniques.  We do not believe in covering plants you may be planning to eat with noxious chemicals.  We use biological controls to deal with pests and natural fertilizers.

Quality & Value

We are dedicated to producing high quality herbal plants at a reasonable price.  We try to ensure that our plants are as healthy and hardy as possible, as forced plants grown in heated glasshouses may look nice but tend not to survive, and we value sales from customers who come back. 

Halfpenny Green Vineyards are on south-west facing slopes in view of the Severn Valley, which makes it very scenic but rather exposed, and so our plants tend to be tough.

Green Policies

When it is practical to do so we try to be 'green'.  Our shop was originally a boarding kennel for dogs, and our outside display area the paddock where they were exercised.  We have built all our own benches using mostly recycled material.  Many are built from the ladder wood and mesh originally used for the dog pens, and others from old pallets.  We are always salvaging unwanted items to reuse.

Why Historic Herbs?

Although we do stock modern cultivars, many herbs have a long history.  The Chinese were writing about herbs 5,000 years ago and the Ancient Egyptians  practiced herbal medicine.  Many of the herbs we know today were introduced into this country by the Romans and before them the druids and later the monks, during the middle ages, were practiced herbalists.

So when we sell a herb, we are not just selling a plant, but a piece of history.

Historic Interest & Research

Not only do we grow the herbs but also research their history and how they were used in the past.  See History of Herbs.

Andy is the driving force behind Historic Herbs.  He assumes a multitude of roles from Managing Director to floor sweeper.  Taking care of the day to day running of the company, he grows and researches the plants and then goes out to sell them.  He also constructed this web site.

Gill is a part-time Registered Sick Children's Nurse and full time mum, but she is often to be found at the Vineyard helping out whenever she can.

Originally hired to 'wash pots' Diane has proved invaluable in a multitude of roles, eschewing the rat race of city life for a more rural vocation.  Oh and she's washed pots twice too!