Allotment History

An introduction to the beginning of the humble Allotment

What is an Allotment?

An allotment is a small area of land rented to individuals. Usually for growing food or flowers but some plots are used purely for leisure often by people who don't have gardens . Plot sizes can range significantly but most plots were originally measured in rod, the standard being 10. This worked out to be roughly 254 sq metres.

The majority of allotment sites are owned by local authorities and may be termed 'statutory' or 'temporary' where: 'statutory' allotment land is land of which the freehold or very long lease is vested in the allotments authority, and which was either originally purchased for allotments or subsequently appropriated for allotment use. 'Temporary' allotment land is rented by an allotments authority or owned by the authority but ultimately destined for some other use. The designation of a local authority site as 'temporary' or 'statutory' is particularly important since, under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, a local authority must seek permission from the Secretary of State before selling or changing the use of a 'statutory' site. The local authority must satisfy the Secretary of State that adequate provision has been made for allotment holders who are displaced by the sale of the site.

The designation of a local authority site as 'temporary' or 'statutory' is particularly important since, under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925, a local authority must seek permission from the Secretary of State before selling or changing the use of a 'statutory' site. The local authority must satisfy the Secretary of State that adequate provision has been made for allotment holders who are displaced by the sale of the site.

The First Allotments

The history of allotments can be said date back to the Saxons who would clear a field from woodland which would be held in common. In the late 1500s the common lands used by the poor for growing food and keeping animals began to be enclosed dispossessing the poor. As compensation allotments of land were attached to tenant cottages, and this is where the first records of allotments as we know them appear. By the 1700's land was being fenced off and more people started to move to cities and towns.

Enclosures under the public General Enclosure Acts of 1836, 1840 and 1845

By the 19th Century and the General Enclosure Acts of 1836 and 1840 made it possible for landowners to enclose land without making a request to parliament first providing a majority agreed.

The General Enclosure Act of 1845 attempted to provide more protection for small proprietors and public. This was enacted due to fear of civil unrest and revolt and provided for land to be set aside for allotment use. The act required that the Commissioners should make provision for the landless poor in the form of "field gardens" limited to a quarter of an acre. This was really the beginning of allotments as we have today in the UK.

Although the act failed to actually provide much land for the poor, out  of the 600,000 acres only around 2,500 acres actually became allotments. 

The Allotment Act 1887

Allotments and Cottage Gardens Compensation for Crops Act 1887 obliged local authorities to provide allotments providing there was the demand.

Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908

The Smallholding and Allotment Act 1907 imposed responsibilities on parish, urban district and borough councils to provide allotments and further legislation in 1908 consolidated previous acts and resolved various anomalies.

1st World War 1914 -1918

During the First World War there were significant food shortages which increased the demand for allotments. One source of land suitable for allotments but not large enough for general agricultural use was the land owned by railway companies. These parcels of land were often allotted to the railway workers and this is the reason that you will often see allotments by railway lines today.

Following the Great War there was a decrease in demand for allotments and this, combined with increased demand for building land for housing reduced the number of allotments.

2nd World War

Once again Britain was troubled by food shortages. The pressure was greater than that of the First World War and even public parks were used for food production. The famous 'Dig for Victory' campaign exhorted and educated the public to produce their own food and save shipping needed for war materials.

Food rationing kept the demand for allotments and home grown foods high until the end of the war although rationing continued until 1954.

Allotment and home food production is highly productive in terms of land use and during the war allotments were estimated to contribute some 1.3 million tonnes from 1.4 million plots. Agricultural production generally is more efficient in terms of labour but not in terms of land usage.

The Allotment Act 1950

The result of demands for more and more building land saw the re-establishment of the Allotments Advisory Body which in 1949 recommended a scale of provision of 4 acres per 1,000 head of population. This resulted in the Allotment Act of 1950.

Decline in Allotment Numbers

Following the peak of 1,400,000 in 1943 there was a sharp decline in allotment provision to around 500,00 in the 1970s. The decline continued during the 1970s but at a much slower rate. During the 1970s there was a huge upsurge in interest in self-sufficiency and home food production epitomised by the television series The Good Life which ran from 1975 to 1978.

The rate of decline again increased encouraged by the continuing increase in land and housing costs, which created an incentive to hard pressed local authorities to sell allotment land for high prices to housing developers.

Current Situation

By 1996 there were around 297,000 plots available and, although definite figures do not appear available, since then the rate of decline appears to have decreased whilst at the same time there has again been an upsurge of interest in growing food crops. Concerns about genetic modification of foodstuffs, chemical pollution and contamination of our food and the desire for the ultimate in freshness has seen empty plots filled and waiting lists appear for sites that previously had high vacancy rates.

It is possible that this increase in demand combined with a willingness to demand provision of allotments as allowed for under statute will see numbers rise from present levels.

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