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St Anns Allotments

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St Anns Allotments
 
A view of the allotments rising above St Ann's
LocationSt Ann's, Nottingham, England
Founded1604 (as rented land)
pre-1835 (as allotments)
Restored1993
Restored bySt Anns Allotment Association/STAA

The St Anns Allotments[a] (also known locally as Hungerhill Gardens)[1][2] is the oldest and largest allotment site in England,[3] and possibly the world.[4] It is located and named after the borough of St Ann's in Nottingham. The allotments cover 75 acres, and have been in use for over 600 years, with the first evidence of rented plots dating back to 1604.[5] Following the Second World War the allotments began to fall into decline, until a group of local allotment holders formed the St Anns Allotment Association (later replaced by STAA Ltd) in 1993 in order to rejuvinate the area. The allotments are Grade 2* listed, and are also listed as a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.[6]

History

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Origin to decline: 17th–20th Century

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Although the land known as Hungerhills had been used prior to 1604, it was not until then that there is evidence of it being rented, when thirty plots of two to three acres were rented to burgessess for £15 a year to be used for grazing.[7] At some point prior to 1835 the allotments were laid out as they are today,[5] and were primarily rented to shopkeepers and professional people who lived in the centre of Nottingham with little or no garden space. At this time the gardens were used for both recreation and cultivation, with many having summer houses and lawns alongside the growing of fruit and vegetables.[7] In 1842 a petition by the Nottingham Independent Cottage Garden Society saw them granted fifty gardens in what was then known as Hungerhill Gardens.[2] During the mid–19th Century, there was a transition from recreational spaces for the wealthy towards cultivation by the poor, who supplemented the rent – a single plot being on average about £1 annually – by growing and selling flowers such as roses for markets in Manchester and Liverpool.[7]

By the late 1800s there were large numbers of summer houses, sheds and greenhouses, some of which still stand, with one building being listed in its own right due to its condition and position in a registered Historic Park and Garden.[2] There were also wells which collected rain to be used as a water source for people who cultivated and sometimes lived on-site.[5] Coming into the 20th Century the land on which the allotments stand began to be used for development to cope with the increased demand for housing,[5] a process which was only halted with the onset of the 'Dig for Victory' campaign during Second World War.[7] A consequence of the campaign was complete tenancy of the allotments, the last time this was the case. Following the end of the war the allotments began to fall into decline, and by the 1960's parts of the site had become overgrown due to a reduced interest in this style of gardening.[6]

Restoration 1993–present

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In 1993 a group of tenants formed the St Anns Allotment Association to lead the St Anns Allotment Campaign, a bid to protect the site from further urban encroachment,[8] and to restore the allotments to a functioning level.[7] In 1998 the role was taken over by STAA Ltd (a pseudo-acronym).

2001 - Community Orchard This is Nottingham and staa

In 2008 a five year restoration project began, funded by a £2.5 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, part of the Big Lottery Fund,[3] with donations from the East Midlands Development Agency, Government Office East Midlands and Nottingham City Council bringing the total to £4.5 million over the five year period.[6] The money was used to reclaim overgrown land, including cutting back 51km of hedges,[6] as well as the installation of security gates to combat vandalism.[9] Money also went towards improving the allotments for a growing number of users, introducing running water and resurfacing roads.[6]


as plots improved... focus on the heritage of the site, including the setting up of display plots to reflect the history of the allotments use, including a 19th century garden, a rose garden and a Second World War allotment.[10]


In 2012 the allotments were granted a further £330,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund which is being put rowards the building of an on-site centre from which to run the allotments, as well as hold an electronical database of the history of the allotments and host activities for young people.[11]


Natural history

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60 plots set aside as managed wildlife areas[6]


Media attention

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They were featured on the BBC's The One Show and Radio 4.[12]

Robot Wars

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Notes

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  1. ^ Although the borough is commonly referred to as St Ann's, the allotments themselves officially do not use an apostrophe.

References

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  1. ^ "Ecoworks: How to find us". Ecoworks. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "Allotment Shed on Plot B305 at Hungerhill Gardens Allotments, Nottingham". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b Clover, Charles (4 March 2008). "Britain's oldest allotments to get Lottery grant". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  4. ^ Douglas, Ian (20 June 2012). "Secret Gardens". Left Lion. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d "Oldest allotments in Britain". BBC. 14 September 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "St Anns Allotments". The Renewal Trust. 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e "St Anns Allotments History". STAA. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Community orchard passes on growing skills to the next generation". This is Nottingham. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  9. ^ "Preservation of Oldest Allotments Backed by Lottery Fund". PublicNet. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. ^ Cooper, Mo (6 February 2009). "St Ann's Allotments, Nottingham". Garden History Society. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  11. ^ "£330,000 lotto boost for historic St Ann's allotments". Nottingham Post. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  12. ^ "Gardeners' Question Time". BBC Radio 4. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  13. ^ Robot Wars: Arenas Of Destruction Review, Retrieved on 4 June, 2010
  14. ^ "Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction". Gamefaqs. Retrieved 05 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ "Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction". GamesMaster UK. Retrieved 05 May 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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