Many thanks to Anne Barton who spent a considerable time researching this in December 2008.

For several years now I have been interested in learning more about the history of the Barossa Road Allotments. When did they first become allotments and what was the land used for before that time? I have never actually found the time to investigate, but this year I made time. Judging by the dates being offered for their inception, I wasn’t sure whether we had missed their centenary or whether we should start planning a celebration.

The library was my first port of call, but although there were many books on the history of Camberley (and some very interesting ones at that) it seemed that nothing much happened north of the A30 apart from the building of the Military Academy and the Staff College. One thing I did learn was that Kings Ride is so called because George III, when using the Turnpike Road between London and Exeter (now the A30) would use a track from that road to Windsor Castle as a shortcut – now Kings Ride. The land in Camberley, north of the A30, which was not part of the Academy/Staff College grounds, appears to have been part of Windsor Great Forest which includes what is known as Barossa Common. The first time I could see the allotments shown on an Ordnance Survey map is in the 1934 edition. As there were editions available between1900 and 1913 which didn’t show the allotments, I presumed the Barossa Site was created sometime between 1913 and 1934.

One interesting fact I learned from a book was that the first Council housing in the then Frimley & Camberley Urban District Borough was in Old Dean Road, close to the Barossa Site. These were built in 1922 and a few of them still exist. Other Council housing quickly followed in other parts of Camberley and these were close to the Crabtree Road, Brook Road and now non-existent sites at Stanhope Road and Queen Mary Avenue. I started to wonder if the allotments were originally placed for the convenience of the tenants of those houses.

I then went to the Museum and was quite hopeful when I was told they had old council files on the allotments in the Borough. However, I was very disappointed to find that they were too recent and only had scant information (letters etc.) covering part of the time when the Council managed the sites. However, I was interested to discover that in 1953/54 plots 1-18 at the Barossa site had a rental of 6/- p.a.. There seemed to be three set charges 6/-, 5/-, and 4/6d and the other plots varied amongst these amounts. The plots now vary in size and are charged by the square metre and I think perhaps the layout of the allotments on the site has changed (please see later note).

The very helpful museum assistant then suggested I try looking through the old Council Meeting minutes and that is where I found what I was looking for. I would like to point out that I was concentrating on the Barossa Site, but it seems that some of the sites we know today, plus those that were in Stanhope Road and Queen Mary Avenue, were formed at about the same time.

The Barossa site was on land formerly owned by the Crown and formed part of the Windsor Forest. Negotiations ran smoothly as they did with a Mr. Sworder who seems to have owned the land where the Queen Mary Avenue site was. However, a Mr. Harris was not happy that his meadow near Frimley Road was being earmarked for an allotment site. (Presumably the one now known as the Crabtree Road Site). I was looking at the Council Meeting Minutes covering 1919 – 1922, and once I knew Barossa was up and running I was only browsing the records. Poor Mr. Harris was complaining bitterly the whole of that time. In fact it appears that eventually his land was compulsorily purchased.

Let’s, however, concentrate on the Barossa Site. I’d like to share with you the information I have found relating to the beginnings of the Site. I know that changes have taken place since 1923 and perhaps one day I will try to find out more about those. Please note that the page numbers shown relate to the pages in the records of Council minutes covering 1919 – 1922.

Anne Barton

Site Representative of Barossa Road Allotment Site

HISTORY OF THE BAROSSA ROAD ALLOTMENTS

29^th September 1919. Page 91

Office of Woods offered 14 acres of land on Barossa for allotments and the Council decided to negotiate with them for the rental of about 5 acres of this land.

(Presumably ‘on Barossa’ means part of Barossa Common)

24^th November 1919 Page 116

The Council accepted the offer from the Office of Woods to lease 5 acres of land which adjoined the proposed site for houses at Barossa. The term was to be for 14 years from 25^th December 1919 at a rental of 25/- per acre per annum.

(Presumably ‘houses at Barossa’ refers to the proposed Council housing.)

It seems between these dates the Council attempted to negotiate the rental

29^th December 1919 Page 129

Letter from the Office of Woods stated that the rent of 25/- per acre per annum could not be reduced. The Clerk (presumably Town Clerk) was in communication with the Chief Land Agent at Windsor regarding the matter.

6^th January 1920 Page 135

It was reported that the rent could not be reduced but an allowance was made that the land would be available rent free for the first year of the tenancy.

26^th January 1920 Page 142

The seal was affixed to the lease of the land. The Allotments’ Committee was to deal with the land and it was agreed that allotment holders would not be charged for the first year’s rent.

22^nd March 1920 Page 166

The allotments at the Barossa site were pegged out by the surveyor who was accompanied by a representative from the Crown Offices.

26^th April 1920 Page 187

The Council were now in possession of the Barossa allotments and the surveyor was instructed to submit estimates for the cost of the necessary fencing.

4^th May 1920 Page 189

21 plots had been marked out and were let and there were a further 21 applicants for plots as soon as other ground was available.

(I could find no reference to other ground being made available at that time so presume more plots were to be marked out)

18^th May 1920 Page 192

Copy of the minutes :-

Allotments

The Committee considered the following suggestions of Vice-Admiral Johnstone’s for the administration of the allotments, viz:

That there should be two groups of allotments for the North and South Wards, each group to be dealt with separately and to be controlled by a Committee of Allotment Holders, the first Committee to be elected by them.

The allotment holders should hold their plots direct from the Council the rent being fixed to provide funds to meet the expenses of the Committees without throwing any burden on the rates and on a basis of the productive quality of the land; the Council’s existing allotments should be gradually brought into the scheme by agreement or as the present tenancies expire.

After carefully considering the matter the Committee considered that the Allotments should be managed by them with the assistance of one delegate from each group of allotments to be nominated by the allotment holders, who will hold their plots direct from the Council and will pay a rental sufficient to recoup the Council for all expenses incurred in relation to the allotments the basis of the rent being fixed by the committee.

Resolved to recommend:

1. That arrangements be made for taking over the management of the whole of the allotments and that the rents be collected by Mr. King.

The Surveyor was instructed to submit alternative estimates for fencing Barossa allotments with a three-strand barbed wire fence with posts 10 feet apart or with 4inch mesh wire netting four feet high.’

(I could find no further reference to ‘the Council’s existing allotments’ mentioned above.)

(The following taken from minutes of meeting of Sewage Disposal Committee)

1^st June 1920 Page 207

The Chairman reported that some of the allotment holders were dissatisfied with the Barossa Allotments.

22^nd June 1920 Page 209

(Sewage Disposal Committee Meeting)

Allotments

Read letter from Vice-Admiral Johnstone stating that in preparing to resign the control of the Camberley Allotments into the hands of the Council the Allotment committee requested the favourable consideration of the following points:

(a) That all Allotment holders should be allowed to have sludge from the Sewage Farm on payment of the cost of cartage.

(b) That owing to the heavy and not immediately profitable labour of bringing the Barossa ground into cultivation the plot holders should have their plots rent free for the first three years.

Admiral Johnstone also stated that the Committee recorded its considered opinion that with careful preparation and cultivation the Barossa site would eventually prove good agricultural ground though in some parts the land was too full of stones for any plot holders to be expected to bring it into cultivation unaided.

The Committee decided to ask the Council to allow the holders of the Barossa Allotments to occupy the land rent free for the first two years and to grant them free of cost four loads of sludge for each plot of ten rods with an allowance of 1/- per load towards the cartage.

The Surveyor submitted alternative estimates for fencing the allotments with barbed wire at a cost of £35 12s 3d or with 4 inch mesh wire netting at a cost of £53 14s : it was decided that the necessary barbed wire fencing should be erected by direct labour at an estimate cost of £35 12s 3d.’

20^th July 1920 Page 222

Surveyor reported that the fencing was in hand.

21^st September 1920 Page 239

Fencing completed.

25^th January 1921 Page 298

It was decided that if plots at Barossa were unlet, existing plotholders could ‘break up’ an additional plot to use.

1^st February 1921 Page 307

The Crown Agent proposed to forthwith resume possession of the land. Allotment Holders had been warned the previous July that this was possible and had now received notice to quit. This was on consideration of the Minutes of the Sewage Disposal Committee.

(I could find no more information about the notice to quit. It doesn’t appear to have been enforced)

15^th February 1921 Page 311

Letter received by the Council from a Mr. Cook. Barossa had experienced damage to crops by rabbits.

25^th April 1921 Page 343

Application received from Barossa plotholders for the Council to erect a fence on the north side of the allotments to keep out rabbits. Estimated Cost £20. The matter was considered and it was decided that as the Council had no available funds, a fence could not be provided by the Council. It was also noted that plots were available to plotholders rent free for the first 2 years. However, the Council had no objection to plotholders providing and erecting the fence themselves.

The Surveyor was instructed to clear tree stumps from the approach road (presumably now the entrance to the side gate) and lace barbed wire fence to prevent intruders. Also instructed to erect a notice board warning trespassers they will be prosecuted.

Committee Meeting Minutes covering 1923

23^rd October 1923 Page 109

Of the 75 plots at Barossa 46 were let (including 7 doubtful) and 29 unlet. There were no further applications for the tenancy of an allotment. Damage was reported to have been caused to allotments and to fences. The Surveyor was instructed to endeavour to discover who were the offenders with a view to prosecution. It was decided that the pathway to the allotments should be repaired and to advertise that allotments were available to rent. A Mr. Crook was authorised to be in charge of letting the allotments on Barossa.

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Please note :- The minutes of the meeting of 23^rd October 1923 definitely states there were 75 plots at that time. At present (end November 2008) Barossa has 61 plots – both full and half sized. The plot layouts must have been changed at some time to accommodate 75 plots especially in view of approx 6 plots being added to the site in relatively recent times.

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In 1977 the Camberley & District Horticultural Society entered into a management scheme with Surrey Heath Borough Council to run the sites in the Borough At that time there were ten sites which the Council had previously managed themselves.