Our story cultivating oysters is nearly 300 years old . . .
Bram Haward
Bram is Richard's eldest son, works the Haward boat "Jacqueline Anne," 8th Generation to work on the water for the Haward family.
Richard Haward
The sea is to Richard what air is to the rest of us, and his passion and knowledge of oysters stems from a deep pride in his own family trade and history.
Tom Haward
One of Richard's three son's, Tom runs the waterfront operation, from grading the catch through to delivery, and is proud of his nickname "8th Gen!"
. . . a family dedicated, since the 1700's, to this unique trade.
Edwin Haward (6th Generation)
William Haward (5th Generation)
Richard Haward (7th Generation)
We believe that the core to cultivating oysters continues to be about respecting nature and honouring the history of this unique industry. From William Haward Snr in the 18th Century, to the oyster that will sit on your plate, our history and where we have come from matters as much as where we are going, and we hope this comes across in the quality of the oyster that you will eat.
A Unique History
Since the 1700's the Haward Family have been cultivating oysters in and around the creeks of Mersea Island, Essex. These oysters, from the River Blackwater, are some of the finest in the world, with the Colchester Native Oyster receiving the Slow Food Presidia status. From the world famous Company Shed, and Borough Market, and across the UK, to Spain, Dubai, and China, our oysters are sold, eaten, and enjoyed around the world.
Farming oysters takes time, and demands that we respect our environment, working with it, to produce oysters that reflect our passion. Richard has often said that these oysters have been here a lot longer than us, so we believe that respecting nature is key.
We are a small business producing what we believe to be a remarkable oyster.