THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
CASTLEMORTON ALLOTMENTS
Castlemorton Parish Council was one of the most progressive in the county in securing land for smallholders to rent to grow their own food. It was 102 acres in Broomy Hill, rented from the Somers family. Below is a newspaper article.
David Smallwood has found the location of Broomy Hill, just below Dales Hall. Unlike the traditional allotment the land was apportioned as smallholding. Though some were subdivided and rented as ‘allotment’ plots.
Most contemporary residents in Castlemorton, Birtsmorton and Hollybush now have fairly large gardens. Many have plots that exceed their needs, labours, or gardening ambitions. The demand for land to support and feed families reflects the population at that time the poor distribution network for food. The poverty and hand to mouth existence. Also many cottages do not have fertile land that is suitable for growing vegetables and food.
It is evident from some lines we have received from Castlemorton, where the Parish Council, with Lady Henry Somerset's help, have been enabled to let out a large area of land in small holdings. Our correspondent, Mr. Ball, gives an encouraging account of the progress made. He says: "Considering the condition of the land, the men have effected great improvement this year, and there is no doubt that time goes on the allotments here will be a great boon. Ours are let lots of from 1/2 an acre to eight acres, and there are many more acres required before all those who want land are supplied. We have a number of applicants from Holly Bush, two miles from Eastnor Castle, and as the land is an outlying portion of a farm, I trust Lady Henry will see her way to granting enough to allow few acres to each."
The Castlemorton Allotments
On Broomy Hill I take stand,
And view the landscape o'er.
I bless the Bill and the Lady's will
That let these lands to the poor.
For in the ground beneath my feet
There's food in plenteous store,
If th' allotment holders patiently
Will turn it o'er and o'er.
And when the jovial time shall come
To gather in the grain
There's many here, both old and young,
Shall bless Lady Henry's name.
And Gladstone's name shall be revered,
By numbers yet untold,
Newspaper: Worcestershire Chronicle
5 December 1896
All of this land was taken for allotments and smallholdings
Two fields, 112 & 113 were retained by Richard Greenway.
Three fields, 1162, 1163 & 102 went to J Colston.
Four fields, 97,98, 99 & 100 went to Clutterbuck.
Field 108 was turned in to allotments.
Other fields were subdivided as shown the map
Colin Weaver has loaned a map which is titled Part of Hunters Hall Farm called Broomy Hills. Although undated, it is post 1885 and pre 1891, so it probably refers to the above article. The map defines an area covered by fields below in the 1839 Tithe map, shown with their acreage and ownership:
This is close to the 102 acres offered by Lady Somers that it is likely that this is almost the same as the area defined by the map. Presumably, by 1895 the Somers family either owned the land, or was renting it and sub-letting to Richard Greenway who was farming Hunters Hall.
Two fields, 112 & 113 were retained by Richard Greenway.
Three fields, 1162, 1163 & 102 went to J Colston.
Four fields, 97,98, 99 & 100 went to Clutterbuck.
Field 108 was turned in to allotments.
Other fields were subdivided as shown the map below:
Silas Weaver’s scrapbook has a handwritten page dated “about 1895”. It is the accounts for the first two years of renting 101 ¼ acres of field