The history of allotments
These photographs from the Daily Herald Archive show how allotments—small plots of land rented to grow fruits, vegetables and plants—developed and were used in the 20th century.
Daily Herald Photograph: OnionsNational Science and Media Museum
Grow your own
In the Daily Herald Archive there is a wealth of photographs which record the history and different uses of allotments throughout the 20th century.
Allotments have their origins in the late Anglo-Saxon/early medieval period, though those we know today stem from the General Enclosure Act of 1845 that made provision for ‘field gardens’ to be used by the landless poor.
Dig for Victory
During the First and Second World Wars, allotment use significantly increased as blockades resulted in a shortage of imported food. The famous ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign during the Second World War produced 1.3 million tonnes of food from nearly 1.5 million allotment plots.
Daily Herald Photograph: Pensioner tending a railway-side gardenNational Science and Media Museum
Wellness
For those lucky enough to own or rent space to grow fruit and vegetables, the health benefits are numerous. Allotments provide a social community space which can be crucial in alleviating loneliness and provide a lifeline during periods of isolation such as Covid-19.
Growing fruit and vegetables can help maintain or increase fitness, and regularly visiting an allotment plot or vegetable garden will top up vitamin D levels. Fresh, seasonal fruit and vegetables are also likely to be more delicious and free of chemicals.
Daily Herald Photograph: Pensioner tending a railway-side garden Daily Herald Photograph: Pensioner tending a railway-side garden (1939) by Malindine, Edward GeorgeNational Science and Media Museum
A chance to experiment
Growing food from scratch can be an immensely rewarding experience, with knowledge and skills to be gained. The proximity to nature is often a great source of inspiration and can provide an exciting environment to teach children about food and the ecosystem.
Fruit and vegetable growing also gives people the opportunity to get creative, and—sometimes intentionally, sometimes not—it can throw up a few surprises like new varieties or strange shapes!
Daily Herald Photograph: Smithfield Horticultural ShowNational Science and Media Museum
Friendly rivalry
Some people grow fruit and vegetables as a hobby or for health benefits, but for others, it’s a chance to compete. This can take the form of friendly competition between neighbours and nearby allotment holders, or it can involve serious competition, awards and prizes.
From low-key competitions in the local pub to national competitions at agricultural shows, contests take place all over the country every year to celebrate the best produce grown. There are even competitions that award prizes for the best allotment plot.
Daily Herald Photograph: Large carrots at vegetable showNational Science and Media Museum
The bigger the better!
The most popular forms of competitions are undoubtedly those which seek to identify the biggest, heaviest or longest vegetables. Growing giant vegetables is a huge technical challenge and requires discipline and dedication to push crops to their limits.
Country and state fairs have been awarding prizes for the largest, heaviest or longest vegetables since the mid-19th century. But the ‘giants’ of 100 years ago would seem average compared to the colossal vegetables seen in recent years, some of which need a tractor to move them!
Daily Herald Photograph: Digging potatoes Daily Herald Photograph: Digging potatoes (1932-02-12)National Science and Media Museum
Protecting the future
Since the 1990s, there has been something of an ‘allotment renaissance’ as concerns over global warming and an interest in organic produce have led people to become more concerned about the origins of their food.
Allotments are a more sustainable way of growing food compared to large-scale agricultural practices. If growing your own food is not attainable, other helpful changes include shopping locally, buying seasonally, and opting for ‘wonky’ or ‘ugly’ versions of supermarket produce.
All images are from the Science Museum Group collection. Copyright Mirrorpix, Hulton Archive/Getty Images, and TopFoto.
