Nestled in the tranquil hills of Peermade, Fairfield Estate spans an impressive 633 acres, making it one of the oldest and most storied estates in the region. Founded in 1868 by Crawford Clarke, the estate began its journey with coffee and cinchona plantations. However, the devastating coffee leaf rust epidemic of 1872 marked a turning point, laying the foundation for a new era of tea cultivation.
The Clark Legacy
In 1870, Henry Thobin Clarke arrived in Peermade and joined Fairfield under Crawford Clarke’s mentorship. By 1876, Henry, along with his associate R.N., purchased the estate, which at the time covered 563 acres, of which 253 were cultivated. It became the second estate in Travancore to plant tea, following the lead of Penshurst in 1875.Aristocratic Influence
By 1882, the estate transitioned into new hands: the Honourable Edward Bootle Wilbraham, of the esteemed Earl of Lathom lineage, acquired Fairfield. His daughters, Lady Bertha Mabel Dawkins and Lady Alice Maud Bootle Wilbraham OBE, were notable figures of the British aristocracy, both serving as Ladies-in-Waiting to Queen Mary.
By 1895 R P became a partner with the Earl of Lathom and managed until 1946 on retirement.
Under their stewardship, Fairfield became a social and cultural hub, hosting dignitaries and embodying the refined charm of the British elite in colonial India. The bungalow built in 1880 by the Earl still stands—a testament to the elegant South Indian plantation architecture of the time.
