Small Holdings & Allotments Act 1908
The small holdings and Allotment Act 1907 imposed responsibilities on parish, urban district & borough councils to provide allotments & further legislation in 1908 consolidated previous acts & resolved various anomalies.
First World War 1914 – 1918
During the first World War Germanys blockade caused food shortages which increased the demand for allotments. One source of land suitable for allotments but not large enough for general agriculture use was the land owned by railway companies. These strips of land were often allotted to railway workers this is the reason that you will often see allotments by railway lines today. Following the First World War there was a decrease in a demand for allotments and this, combined with increased demand for building land for housing reduced the number of allotments.
Blog & Research Mark Burton (Allotment Secretary)
Photos enhanced by Mick Cooper (Plot 12E)
History of Allotments – To be continued …..
