Location:
Then: A large piece of land across the other side of Manor Lake from the main section of the park.
Now: The area is currently unused.
Official Thorpe Park Description:
From the 2000 Thorpe Park Website “Catch the train from Canada Creek Railway Station to Thorpe Farm, a working farmyard where children can see and safely touch many different breeds of sheep, pigs, cows and goats.
Thorpe Farm covers more than 15 acres. Over sixty species of wild fowl and wild birds have been identified at Thorpe Farm. Some of these stay all the year round whilst others are summer or winter visitors.
Guests to the farm can watch foot trimming, sheep shearing and lots of births.
There is a comprehensive breeding programme at the farm for sheep, cows, pigs and goats.”
The Attraction
Over the years the farm was active you could access it via the Waterbuses from Model World or the Canada Creek Railway. And at least until the closure of Treasure Island Railway in 1993 you could also walk to the farm on a path that ran alongside the Canada Creek Railway track.
As well as the Sheep, Cows, Pigs and Goats the farm was home to many animals including: Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Shire Horses, Donkeys, Shetland Ponies, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Llamas and a Duckling that was rescued by staff from the Tidal Wave track who then thought he was a Chicken.
The farm was designed to be a recreation of a 1930’s working farm. When they were developing the area they had to carefully restore many of the farm buildings as they date back to the 17th Century. These buildings include Manorhouse Farm house, Manorhouse Barn and the Shire Bar, all of which are Grade II listed buildings.
Other attractions at Thorpe Farm included a Craft Centre, a Farm Gift Shop, a small children’s playground, an Ice cream shop and a restaurant called ‘Pot Bellies’ (in 2006 this was renamed as ‘The Farm Restaurant’).
Thorpe Farm Closure
In 2007 Thorpe Park posted notices around the park informing guests that Thorpe Farm would not be reopening following its closure during the summer of the 2006 season.
This is what the notices said about the closure:
“Thorpe Park has made the decision not to reopen its Farm attraction in 2007, which has now been closed since Summer 2006. The numbers of guests choosing to spend time at the Farm has declined steadily due to the range of new and improved attractions available for guests of all ages, and this factor has been instrumental in us reaching this decision.
Please rest assured that all the animals have been re-homed. At present there are no firm plans for the main Farm area, but we hope to have our landscape team occupy the grounds in the near future for horticultural purposes.”
Memories of Thorpe Farm:
Merchandise:
Photos:
Related Videos:
Facts & Trivia:
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Thorpe Farm is also known as Manorhouse Farm. This is a historical name for the farm from before Thorpe Park opened it to the public.
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An old postcard of a Shire Horse at Thorpe Farm, supplied by Alec Dunn.
An old postcard of Thorpe Farm, supplied by Alec Dunn.
An old postcard,
Supplied by Philip Hutchinson.
An old postcard of the entrance to Thorpe Farm,
Supplied by Philip Hutchinson.
An old postcard of Thorpe Farm..
An old postcard of the pens and barns at Thorpe Farm..
A couple of classic Thorpe Farm badges, from the 1980’s and 1990’s.
A photo of Phill on the tractor at Thorpe Farm, taken in 1987.
Another piece of old farm machinery, taken in 1982. Supplied by Snail Trail.
The old Thorpe Farm cart/ wagon, taken in 1982. Supplied by Snail Trail.
The old Thorpe Farm cart/ wagon, taken in 1982. Supplied by Snail Trail.
Another piece of old farm machinery, taken in 1982. Supplied by Snail Trail.
Feeding time at Thorpe Farm, taken from the 1991 park map, supplied by Alec Dunn.
Feeding time at Thorpe Farm, taken from the 1992 park map, supplied by Alec Dunn.
Feeding time at Thorpe Farm, taken from the 1992 park map, supplied by Alec Dunn.
A view of Thorpe Farm
taken in 1985, supplied by Robert (se71).
The old land train at the entrance of Thorpe Farm
taken in 1985, supplied by Robert (se71).
The Canada Creek Railway station at Thorpe Farm.
Taken in 2004, supplied by James Salter
Thorpe Farm duck pond taken in 1985.
Supplied by LindyLouMac.
Thorpe Farm duck pond taken in the very early 90’s.
Supplied by Ben Wegner, Basingstoke.
Thorpe Farm duck pond and farmhouse taken in 2006. Supplied by John Griffiths.
The Thorpe Farm yard and barns taken in 2006. Supplied by John Griffiths.
The following seven images, taken in 2006, are courtesy of micbinks: UK tourism images.
A cow costume character at Thorpe Farm in 2006.
Inside the old style barns at Thorpe Farm in 2006.
Young goats at
Thorpe Farm in 2006.
“And this little piggy went...”
Thorpe Farm in 2006.
The ‘exotic’ Llamas at
Thorpe Farm in 2006.
The train station at
Thorpe Farm in 2006.
The Thorpe Park skyline as seen from Thorpe Farm in 2004. Supplied by James Salter
The old Potbellies Gift Shop sign, as seen during the 2010 Fright Nights season in the new ‘Dead End Terror Zone’.
An old Waterbus sign as seen during the 2010 Fright Nights season in the new ‘Dead End Terror Zone’.
Another old Waterbus sign as seen during the 2010 Fright Nights season in the new ‘Dead End Terror Zone’.
A sign for one of the farm’s children’s play areas as seen during the 2010 Fright Nights season in the new ‘Dead End Terror Zone’.
Uploaded to YouTube by benngrey.
Description: A sing-along children’s video filmed at the park in the 90’s.
Footage of Thorpe Farm Pond @ 4m15s
Footage of the Shire Horses, Tractors, Farm Buildings, Feeding Lambs and Pigs @ 6m43s
Uploaded to YouTube by benngrey.
Description: A sing-along children’s video filmed at the park in the 90’s.
More footage of Thorpe Farm at the start of the video.
Uploaded to YouTube by 
lisaglitters.
Description: Part one of a Sooty special about farms filmed at Thorpe Farm in 1991.
Farm Sign, Farm Manager Ian and Sooty’s duties @ 4m44s
Vintage Tractors @ 8m28s
Uploaded to YouTube by lisaglitters.
Description: Part two of the Sooty special about farms filmed at Thorpe Farm in 1991.
Shots of the Farm buildings @ 0m23s
Shot of old grain store and explanation of why it is “...standing on concrete mushrooms...” @ 2m10s
Thorpe Farm duck pond @ 9m52s
Uploaded to YouTube by lisaglitters.
Description: Part three of the Sooty special about farms filmed at Thorpe Farm in 1991.
Ian checks a sheep over and trims it’s nails @6m25s
Sheep shearing @ 8m25s
Uploaded to YouTube by lisaglitters.
Description: Part four of the Sooty special about farms filmed at Thorpe Farm in 1991.
Sheep dipping and Sooty sprays Farm Manager Ian
Shire horse @ 4m42 and Donkeys @ 5m34s
Feeding calves @ 9m04s and Ian milks a cow @ 10m05s
Uploaded to YouTube by lisaglitters.
Description: Part five of the Sooty special about farms filmed at Thorpe Farm in 1991.
Ploughing the land @ 0m15s
Spinning Wheel with Lorna @ 3m52s
“Shot on location at Thorpe Park. With special thanks to the staff.” @ 10m09s
A Thorpe Farm sew on patch.
