Stowupland's Allotments
Over the past decades allotment areas have been something of a moveable feast and often linked to charities, see A simplified look at Stowupland Allotments (2021). Or for more details see especially Spoonman’s or Thrandston allotments.
From this sale document of 1955 it can be seen there were allotments to the north and the south pf Church Road
By the late 1960s and 70s local people no longer wanted large allotments but there was still a demand for more manageable plot sizes.
In 1969 the parish Clerk, Mr R.A.Wright ‘reported an appreciable demand for 10 rod allotments and it was decided to satisfy this by ‘splitting up an acre plot which will shortly become vacant.’
In the 1970s the parish council debated whether to keep the allotment plots at Spoonmans and /or Thrandestones.
The history of of Spoonmans’ and Thradstone allotments goes back to at least the 1880s.
Neil Langridge summarised the legislation behind the allocation of village allotments as -The relative flood of legislation commenced with The Allotment Extension Act (1882) that required trustees holding charity land for the use of the poor to set aside part of that land for use as allotments. It was followed by The Allotment Extension Act (1885) which allowed allotments to be let at the same rate as surrounding farmland. Arguably the most important act was The Allotment Extension Act (1887), which was the first attempt at legislating for the public provision of allotments. It enabled Sanitary Districts to provide allotments, if necessary by the compulsory purchase of land. Six registered electors could appeal to a Sanitary District to enforce the act.
In theory, the establishment of County Councils in the following year put pressure on Sanitary Districts to provide allotments. This pressure was tightened in 1890 when County Councils were required to have an Allotment Committee which was responsible for holding inquiries if a Sanitary District failed to provide allotments. The Local Government Act
(1894) meant that the new councils that it had created had the power to provide allotments of up to 1 acre in size by voluntary agreement, or up to 1 acre (arable) and 3 acres (pasture) if compulsory means were required. While these changes helped, it was still all too easy for the authorities to “sit on their hands” and avoid having to take action to provide allotments.
The following report on THE STOWUPLAND CHARITIES in Suffolk and Essex Free Press, 11 Dec 1889 illustrates local people’s feelings:
” As “T’hradstone’s Farm and Spoonman’s Farm were to be let in Stowupland a meeting was called by the Trustees of the Stowupland Charity to consider the advisability of tendering for the land for the purposes of allotments. The meeting was fixed for Tuesday evening at the Board School, and at that place on that evening there was large attendance of agricultural labourers. The Vicar (Rev. S. M. Statham. M.A.), Mr. H. F Harwood, Mr J W. Howard and Mr. F. Robinson (churchwardens), and Mr. Potter were the Trustees present, Mr. T. E. Carter, the honorary clerk also attending; Mr. G. J. Gostling, the remaining Trustee, was unavoidably absent. The Vicar presiding.
Mr H F. Harwood said he was very pleased to see such a large meeting as it justified the trustees in the steps they had been taking all along, to try and get land for the use of the people in the parish. Amongst the conditions of the letting- Thradstone’s farm noticed that it was to be let on eight years’ lease. He did not like that. (A Voice: “More I, sir.)
There was land in the parish anything like so suitable for this purposes allotments Thradstone’s farm, as it was situated quite in the centre of the parish, and right m the midst of them. If they wanted to get the land they must make fair offer for it, and hirers of the allotments must be prepared to pay a fair rent. With regard to the eight years’ lease, of course they would be able, at the conclusion of the lease, under the Agricultural Holdings Act, to claim, and would get fair valuation for the improvements they had made. They would want the land that they should be able to plant fruit trees. objection to planting fruit trees was that the one who planted them bad no security. They wanted to see that the hirers of land should be secure. (Hear hear.) He was not only owner, but hirer of land, and he felt that could act do the same on his hired land as his own farm. Thradstones Farm was at that moment in a bad state, but in eight years tune it night be worth three or four pounds acre. For some allotments which he knew, 30s. an acre had been offered, but did not think they would get Thradstone’s Farm for low a rental as that. There were tithes and rates payable in addition to the rent.
They would also have to pay for repairs, and the repairs would be serious matter. (Laughter.) They must not in tendering for the land let the charities suffer. Mr. Thos. Brame said his presence and that of his fellow-workmen that night showed that they were anxious to obtain allotments. He could not see his way clear to put in for that land, while the condition of eight years lease remained. If he took an acre of land and cleaned and drained it, would not like to give it up at the end of eight years. Mr. Carter said there would be about 17 acres altogether to be let for allotments. The Chairman asked those present who wished to have allotments on Thradstone’s Farm to hold up their hands, in response to which appeal 18 held up their hand. Mr. Harwood said all that the Trustees could ask was for their confidence —(A Voice :You’ve got it, sir”)—and they would do their best. The matter was left in the hands of the Trustees to decide, and the meeting separated. We have since been informed that the tender of the Stowupland Trustees has been accepted.”
In 1889 a follow up article was written. Unfortunately it is not very clear but explains that 2 years previously the existing tenancies of the poor estate were revoked and a board of trustees were elected to allocate allotments to parishioners. The article reported that all rents had been properly paid.
In his autobiography the Rev Leslie Brame described a triangular shape allotment rented by his father in the 1920s. Presumably this is the area shown in the bottom left hand corner of the above map of Thrandstone allotments.
