Darley Oaks Farm

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Darley Oaks Farm was a family-run farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, England. Owned and run by brothers Christopher and John Hall, the farm bred guinea pigs for animal testing and vivisection.

The farm was the subject of a prolonged campaign against it by animal rights activists. The Halls closed the guinea-pig breeding side of the business on January 20, 2006, according to the BBC.^[1]

The campaign became well-known in the UK after the body of a family member was removed from her grave in February 2004. The corpse of Gladys Hammond, Christopher Hall's mother-in-law, was taken from a churchyard. In October, letters were sent to the family stating that protesters had the remains.^[2] Three men and a woman have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail in connection with the body-snatch and are awaiting sentence.

In January 2005, some of the protesters agreed to limit their protests after villagers in nearby areas sought an injunction.^[3]

On August 23, 2005, the family announced they would reluctantly stop breeding guinea pigs and revert to more traditional farming methods.^[4] Sarah Dixon, from Save the Newchurch Guinea Pigs Campaign, has said "Until the shed where the guinea pigs are kept is bulldozed, our peaceful protests will continue, because only then we can be sure that no more animals are being bred for medical research." ^[5]

Other protest actions have included a supplier's delivery driver being followed from the farm back to his depot, and from there to his home.^{[citation needed]}