Butlers Farm in Emmerdale is one of the soap’s most recognisable properties. It is currently home to Moira and Cain Dingle, but it has a rich history.
The 157-acre working farm was built around 1800 and is situated a short distance from the main village.
As Emmerdale was originally an agricultural community, Butlers is an important piece of the village’s past.
The farm is the property of Kim Tate, who purchased it from previous owner Moira Dingle in 2023. Moira still owns the farmhouse of Butlers and the field where daughter Holly is buried. Moira lives there with husband Cain and their young sons Kyle Winchester and Isaac Dingle.
Location shooting for Butlers Farm is filmed at Brookland Farm, which is in the village of Eccup. The interior of Butlers farmhouse are filmed in the Emmerdale studios in Leeds.
The history of Butlers Farm in Emmerdale
The farm is thought to date back to the beginning of the early nineteenth century. It was originally owned by a local man called Wilf Butler, who gave his name to the farm.
Butlers was thought to have remained in the Butler family until 2003, when it was first seen on screen.
Wilf had a son called Stephen and when we first met them, Wilf, played by Peter Armitage, was almost bankrupt. With the farm in poverty Jack Sugden helped him out.
The Andy Sugden years
In 2003, farmer’s son Andy Sugden decided he wanted to have a go at running his own holding. He and first wife Katie Addyman took over the tenancy and the young couple grafted all hours to keep the farm running.
Following his divorce from Katie, Andy married Jo Stiles, but the pair split due to Andy’s violent behaviour.
Andy struggled to run the farm on his own, and when Jo sold all of Butlers equipment and livestock he was left with nothing.
He subsequently suffered a complete mental breakdown and was forced to give up his beloved Butlers, marking the end of an era.
The John Barton years at Butlers Farm in Emmerdale
Butlers was given a shake-up with the arrival of the Bartons in 2009.
This modern farming family were brought in by former series producer, Gavin Blyth and consisted of dad John, mum Moira and their three teenage children Adam, Holly and Hannah (who is now Matty).
Andy was re-hired and the family also brought in farmhand Alex Moss to help them manage Butlers.
In 2011, John and Moira decided they wanted to make Butlers their permanent home and bought it from the Home Farm estate for a reduced price.
Following John’s tragic death in a car accident, grieving Moira wanted to sell Butlers, but was convinced her kids to stay put.
The James Barton years
In 2014, Butlers saw the arrival of four new faces – John’s brother James Barton and his three sons, Pete, Ross and Finn.
The clan had come to Butlers because they had lost their own farm. James and co were later joined by his former wife, Emma.
After James’s death in October 2016 his shares in Butlers went Emma and their sons
Deaths at Butlers Farm in Emmerdale
You could say it’s something of a curse to live at Butlers – particularly if your last name is Barton!
The first of the Barton brood to meet their maker was John, who perished in a car crash.
The family then suffered tragic two losses in 2016.
In September, Moira discovered her daughter Holly dead in bed after she’d succumbed to a heroin overdose in her sleep. This sad event marked the only death to actually occur in Butlers.
And the next month, James was accidentally pushed off a bridge by his wife, Emma.
Almost a year on from that fateful day, Emma accidentally gunned down Finn, and was subsequently pushed to her death off a viaduct by Moira.
Crikey!
Steamy affairs
If the walls in Butlers could talk, they’d have some saucy tales to tell!
There’s been quite a bit of rolling around in haystacks – particularly involving Moira!
Her relationship with Cain actually began as an affair, when she was still married to first husband, John, and the lovers enjoyed a few steamy sessions in the farmhouse.
Moira also has also engaged in hanky panky with farmhand Alex Moss, and more recently Nate Robinson – who turned out to be Cain’s long-lost son!
Wedding bells
Cain and Moira Dingle tied the knot at Butlers back in 2014.
One of the farm’s barns was transformed into a wedding venue and the couple’s loved ones gathered there to watch the happy pair exchange vows.
Recently another of the Butlers barns has had a complete makeover, so could more wedding plans be on the horizon?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.30pm and 2.05pm.
