As we celebrate our 16th year of being Olamalu, we are reflecting on some key moments in our journey. One of the most important milestones was gaining our very first customers, one of those was Cogges Heritage Trust.
Cogges Heritage Trust is the charity responsible for the upkeep, preservation and success of Cogges Manor in Witney, West Oxfordshire. A beautiful 13th-century Manor House and Farm that remains largely untouched. The 17-acre site is a listed ancient monument and is one thousand years old, included in the Domesday Book, and one of its early owners, Wadard, is featured on the Bayeux Tapestry.
This is a special place, whose history is interwoven with Witney, Oxfordshire and wider British history. It attracts local people and their families, who enjoy the farm, house and play areas as well as the wide range of events. It’s a wedding and events venue and attracts tourists, history lovers, garden enthusiasts, as well as artists, writers and film makers – it was the location of Downton Abbey’s Yew Tree Farm.
It’s important that Cogges Manor Farm keeps going, so that its history and stories can continue to educate and inspire future generations.
A website is key to the success of a charity like Cogges. With budgets limited, the website plays a pivotal role in marketing, sales, education and is a vital strategic tool for encouraging donations.
Over the course of 16 years, we’ve built 2 websites for Cogges Manor Farm and have recently undergone a design and navigational re-theme on their current site. We understand that a charity like Cogges has limited funds, but its website needs to function for as long as possible and remain technically and strategically relevant.
With these recent changes, we were able to heavily re-design the whole website, giving it a fresher, crisper design that feels contemporary, but warm. A film was added to the homepage to instantly introduce the user to the world of Cogges Manor Farm, and a warm cream tone provides the base colour to every page. It oozes heritage and warmth with content that is easy to digest and a breeze to navigate.
New event content boxes were designed with all the information clearly categorised, making it quick and easy for the customer to browse and book.
The transactional process remained the same, with the biggest changes to navigation in the private hire section. Here, a secondary homepage gives users clear direction on where to find information about weddings, corporate hire, private hire and filming. These changes have made a huge difference in SEO and customer satisfaction.
Knowing we’ve made a difference is so important to us as a business. We really value all customers, but it’s extra special knowing that we’ve been able to look after some clients from our very first days. A happy 16th birthday indeed.
To learn more about Cogges Manor Farm visit their website here.
