History Of Wenvoe’s Allotments
HISTORY OF WENVOE’S ALLOTMENTS
As a former allotment holder I was fascinated to read this article in the South Wales Star dated 31 March 1893.
Next business: the selection of Field wardens for the Allotment. Mr T Thomas and Mr G J Thomas re-elected.
Wenvoe Vestry Meeting: The Allotment question. In reply to questions the Chairman stated the whole of the allotments had been cultivated this year. Last year there was one left uncultivated but now they had some difficulty in suiting all who applied and had to divide two or three pieces between two persons. Last year three prizes had been offered and he was pleased to say that this year the Rector had expressed his willingness to give a prize of 10 shillings for the allotments.
Mr J Thomas also explained what had been done in the past in regard to the allotments. He stated that at the Dinas Powis show 3 prizes had been given for the cultivating of the allotments- 10 shillings, 7 shillings 6 pence and 5 shillings. The judges had said people could not expect a prize if they only grew potatoes..if they did it showed they had a garden elsewhere and only set potatoes in the field. The allotments were intended to help the men who cultivated them as gardens. They had done well with their allotment; although they gave the people 8 perches for 1 shilling a year they had sufficient money in hand to give them about 2 shillings worth of lime for their 1 shilling.
There were 24 allotments of 8 perches each. They belonged to the working classes and had been left by the Enclosure Commissioners for the industrious poor of the village when that body took over St Lythans Downs.
(|Note: 8 perches is 0.05 of an acre; one shilling is 5p in new money)
by Nigel Billingham
The Wenvoe allotments are located at Twyn-yr-Odyn adjacent to the playing field. Please contact wenvoeccallotments@gmail.com to enquire about the allotments and contact the Wardens for any concerns.
