1940s – Everday life on the gardens

Back to the minutes.  They become even scantier during the second world war, with no records for 1940 or 1942 and only the briefest of records from the other years.  Richard Croston continued as secretary and it maybe that he was not very conscientious, or it maybe that the organisation of the society was neglected …

Allotments for the Unemployed in Lancashire

In the early 1930s John Robson reported that there was great distress in the Lancashire district.  To begin with efforts were concentrated in Barrow-in-Furness, Darwen, Accrington and Warrington.  A chap called John Broughton, the County Land Agent based in Preston, was appointed organiser.  Miss Marguerite Yeo was appointed full time assistant.  I imagine her as …

Allotments for the Unemployed. How it began and how it was organised.

I decided to investigate The Society of Friends Allotments for the Unemployed Scheme. A google search brought up a blog from Birmingham library archives with some references and links, so I won`t repeat anything you can find there. https://theironroom.wordpress.com/2016/04/11/allotments-for-the-unemployed/ After some more rummaging around on the internet I discovered that the Society of Friends have …

1930s – Everyday life on the gardens

In the 1930s the UK experienced an economic depression causing unemployment and widespread poverty, particularly in the industrial areas.   Wigan must have had a reputation for being particularly badly affected as George Orwell was commissioned to write an account of poverty in the North and he visited Wigan in February in 1936, before going on to …

Secretaries of NSHS

Last week was the AGM of NSHS when the secretary stood down and, as nobody else had been put forward, I agreed to take over.  There was a bit of a debate, as I am one of the trustees, but everyone agreed. I had a hand over meeting with the outgoing secretary, Darren Rudd, last …

Of Cabbages and Kings: The History of Allotments, by Caroline Foley.

I recently found a copy of this in a second hand bookshop.  It is a bit of a whistle top tour.  Her book “encompasses a broad swathe of history” and “takes great strides through the past ten centuries.”  She shows how allotments were affected by forces and events in the world, like wars and revolutions …

The story of Albert Huxley and the Challenge Cup

Pause for another diversion – this time into the more recent past.  The engravings on the Cup show it was awarded each year for ten years.  Rd(Richard) Croston won it in 1930 and 1932, John F Parr in 1931, Fred Beech in 1933 (If you remember, his garden was damaged by boys in 1922) and Albert …

The Challenge Cup

  Last week we attended the annual prize giving of NSHS (we didn`t win anything), with hot pot supper and a visit from the Mayor and a good time was had by all.  Each year there are prizes for winners of the big veg competition and for the best kept gardens.  The overall winner is …

Garden judging

A prize for the best cropped and best kept garden was awarded as part of the early shows. In 1924 the entrance fee was 6d per double and 4d per single garden and the prize was 5/- for each single and double garden.   Mr Boyd (Haigh Hall head gardener at the time) was asked to …

1924 Annual Show of Fruit and Vegetables

In 1922 the committee resolved to hold a show the following year, and to prepare by organising an event to raise funds.  They called a special meeting, but only the secretary turned up and it had to be abandoned.  In August 1923 they again resolved to have a show next year and another special meeting …