The Story of Shepperton Allotments
A brief history from back then to today
Allotments have been a part of the British landscape for more than a century and a half. Initially born out of the enclosure Acts of the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, allotments grew in prominence as a need to address the rapid industrialisation of the UK economy and urbanisation of it's general population was recognised
Allotments reached their height during the Second World War , when it was estimated there were 1.75 million in cultivation . In the last sixty years however, there has been a marked decline in their fortunes. Culturally they came to be seen as a recreational activity, rather than one dedicated to providing essential foodstuffs for the working family. This was accompanied by a surge in the disposal of the temporary allotment land for other uses, most typically house building.
In 1924 our allotments were of a substantial size (approximately 140 plots). As time has gone by more of our land has been reclaimed for building. Today Shepperton Allotments Association has only 26 plots left on the site, where once it was thriving with activity.
This is the front cover of the 1920's Rules for Shepperton Allotment Association. It covers how the site was run back then.
This is what the Shepperton Allotments Association site looked like many years ago.
This is an Ordnance Survey map of the site in 1924. Back then it had 140 plots on the grounds.
This is an Ordnance Survey map of the site in 1953. Back then it had about 140 plots on the grounds.