Horsell Allotment Association
A History of Horsell Allotments
1917-1997
The following was written by Stuart Ransom in 1997, and has appeared in print before.
A Public Meeting was held at the Horsell Parish Institute on 25th September 1917 with a view to forming an Allotment Association outside the jurisdiction of the local Council. Originally called the Horsell Allotment Holders and Small Gardeners Association a mandate was given to proceed and negotiations soon took place to acquire a lease over 5 acres of land at Spong Field, Bullbeggars Lane from Horsell Park Estates.
By December agreement had been reached, despite criticism from members that they have been slow, to rent the land for 7 years at £l7 p.a. The land was divided into 43 plots of either 10 or 20 rods and allocated to members by ballot. The Association soon got into its stride and by April 1919 were awarding cups and medals for well kept plots and also replacing members who did not keep their plots to the high standard required.
Bulk supplies were delivered to Horsell Wharf on the Basingstoke Canal. 50 tons of manure from the Army at Pirbright for £11.5s.0. and a barge load of lime for 15s.0d. There is no record of how they were carted to the site some 300 yards away.
The lst Annual Dinner was held at the Rendezvous Restaurant in 1920 but it does seem that the last Annual Dinner was in 1921. By this time the finances were reported to be in good order with a balance at the bank of £2.14s.3d. 1922 proved to be an important year when a new 21 year lease was signed at £21p.a. It was also agreed in this year to provide water to the site by sinking a well. The members undertook this task and the bricks required were purchased in Guildford and delivered to Woking by rail at a total cost of £6.10s.0d. A pump was purchased for £4.l0.Od. and was to remain in service for over 30 years. 1922 also saw members on a charabanc trip to Wisley Gardens - it rained all day but everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The years began to pass with all the plots let and long waiting lists, in 1923 members were warned about growing too many flowers and also that year drainage was installed. In 1939 it was reported that the Council wanted to turn the Allotments into a playing field which was of course overtaken by the war. The war seems to have had no adverse effect upon the members who carried on as usual although it is noted that boxes of seed were received from America on two occasions and distributed by ballot to members. On the other hand 200lbs of onions were donated to the Red Cross each year to be sold to help Prisoners of War. Post war years were largely uneventful until 1964 when the Council intimated that they wanted to build on the site. A compulsory purchase order was issued in 1966 and a public enquiry held. 1967 saw the Council allocating land at our present site which was made available by the end of March 1969. The allocation of plots at the new site caused much concern amongst members and it was eventually decided that those with over 20 years as plot holders should have first choice.
In the meantime the 50th anniversary dinner had been held at a cost of 18s.6d. a head. The 1970's saw a great surge in interest and by the end of the decade there were 70 people on the waiting list and a demand for the Council to provide a further site which they did at Westfield. Since that time there have been few ripples in the smooth running of the Association with all plots let and a constant waiting list, although nowhere near the level of 1979.
1982 saw 74 members celebrating the 65th anniversary with a dinner at the Parish Hall. One of the most interesting things about the Association is the number of long serving officers over the last 80 years - just 9 Presidents and 6 Secretaries. The 1st President, Mr Jennings, served from 1917 to 1940 whilst the longest serving Secretary was Mr Harries from 1963 to 1985. The longest serving Committee Member however was Mr Tapper. Secretary from 1931 to 1943, Vice President from 1944 to 1954 and President from 1955 to 1961. Quite a record.
The Association is fortunate in having in its possession the minutes of every meeting since 1917 and all the account books and records dating back to the early days.
Today the Association continues to flourish with all the plots let, even though they are mainly 5 rods in size, and a waiting list at all times together with a healthy bank balance.
