History of Winterborne Houghton Springs Trout Farm
A fish farm was built on the site of The Winterborne river in 1974 before Founder Hans Hoff bought the land in 1986 and turned it into the Houghton Springs Fish Farm we know today, where rainbow trout and Artic char were produced.
In the Doomsday book in 1086 this area was owned by Lord William of Mohun, the same landowner who owned the farm and ancient farmhouse over the hill in Hammoon where new owner Justin Frampton’s family have farmed for three generations.
The site has also been used as watercress beds and the wild watercress still grows across the farm and down the river to the next village, naturally enriching the water with its healthy antioxidants.
Winterborne Houghton
“The name derives from the River Winterborne, which has its source here. The river only flows overground during the winter, hence the name. To the east is Winterborne Stickland and the river flows on to this village, eventually joining the River Stour at Sturminster Marshall.
To the southwest is Milton Abbas.
Residents of Winterborne Houghton used to be known as “Houghton Owls”, in reference to the story of a villager who, when calling for help having got lost in the woods, mistook the calls of owls for answering human voices. In his book Dorset Villages Roland Gant posits the theory that Thomas Hardy used this tale as inspiration for the scene where Joseph Poorgrass gets lost in Yalbury Wood in Far from the Madding Crowd.[5]”
Hans Hoff
Hans Hoff bought Winterborne Houghton Springs Fish Farm in 1986 and was considered an aquaculture pioneer for his work in the genetic selection of Rainbow Trout. Nationally recognised as a leader in his field, Hans prided himself on producing the best fish, spending decades researching and genetically selecting his brood stock to improve the strain.
Sadly Hans Hoff passed away in 2023, but his legacy lives on at Winterborne Houghton Springs Farm and through the generations of fish still being farmed there and the knowledge and expertise of long term farm manager, Keith Downton.
Hans is being recognised by the British Trout Association posthumously 2025 with the Peter Jones memorial award for prestigious services to industry. a Service to the Industry award.
