|
The
History of the
London Road Allotment Association.
Written & researched by Mark Wilson
The
Birth of the London Road Allotments The
London Road Allotments came into being around the year 1911. Together Joseph
Raven, with councillors John W Trindle, H L Curzons and W B
Rainbow, approached the Coventry
Corporation with the view of obtaining land for the use of allotments. The
Coventry Corporation kindly let a piece of land extending from Shortley Road
uphill and down to the brook. These were the first gardens and were known as
Tunnel Hill Gardens No 1. H
L Curzons: Councillor. Profession: Cabinet Maker. Business,
Curzons & Sons Complete House Furnishers and French Polishers at 44
Much Park Street. He also specialised in Smoke Room Furniture, comfortable up to
date seating fitted complete from 5 Shillings per foot. William
Ballard Rainbow: Councillor. Profession: Chemist. Business, Rainbow's Drug
Stores: 5 Victoria Street. Residence 10 Cash's
Lane Joseph
Raven: Profession
Florist & Seed Merchant 22 London Road. John
W Trindle: Councillor. Profession: Whitesmith. The Business was at 46A Much
Park Street which also specialised in Bell Hanging. Residence 26 Sunny Bank,
Park Side. The London
Road Allotments Limited was formed in 1912, Councillor W. B. Rainbow being
elected as Secretary, a position he held until the tragic accident which
caused his death. Two members who also served on the first committee were messrs
Warwick and Edwards. The first members had to take out three 10 shilling shares. After
the Association had been in existence for a time, a further piece of land was acquired,
and this was known as Tunnel Hill No 2. When
the 1914-18 war broke out, there was a demand for allotments and the committee
was successful in obtaining more land from the Coventry Corporation, which
extended to Folly Lane ( now Humber Road ) and the Railway and the Pinley side (
Castle Hill South ) and referred to by the London Road Allotment
Association as the East Side now part of the Seven Stars Industrial Estate. Sometime after the 1914-18 war, additional land was secured, now
known as the Terry Road Site and obtaining further land for allotments being
known as the Terry Road Extension. In
the early days of the Associations formation, small shows were held in the
Charterhouse grounds, but during the war years the shows were allowed to lapse,
but later revived as we know of one Flower and Vegetable show held in the
grounds of the Parks Social Club at the Charterhouse with great gratitude
expressed to our Committee by the Corporation Parks and Allotments Committee and
if further shows were required then permission would be readily given. A
few facts. The London Road Allotments
once occupied 50.4
acres composed of 430 plots. Currently 19 Acres. Terry
Road Allotments occupied 8 acres composed of 64 plots. Terry
Road Extension occupied 4 acres composed of 49 plots. 
Photograph
of the Terry Road site, the disused Coventry Loop Line can be seen branching
North (between the trees) from the Main line. Note
Terry Road Allotments is no longer part of the London Road Allotment
Association. 
Timeline 1862 Our
first secretary, William
Ballard Rainbow was Born. 1889 William
Ballard Rainbow married Elizabeth Barr. 21st
July 1909 Coventry
Gardeners & Small Holders Federation Ltd Founded. President,
C S Ralli Esq: Chairman, Councillor W H Halliwell: Vice-Chairman, A Castle:
Treasurer, H L Curzons: Secretary, W B Rainbow: Offices, 10 Cash's
Lane. The
Federation is the recognised representative authority for Small Holdings &
Allotments in the District. It has direct representation on the Small Holdings
& Allotments Committee of the Coventry City Council, by the appointment
thereon of three co-opted representatives of which the London Road Allotments
Ltd are affiliated to. 1912-13 London
Road Allotments Ltd - 220 members with a share capital of 660 x 10 Shilling
shares, cultivating 22 acres of land on a 14 year's lease from the Coventry City
Council, and 3 acres on an annual tenancy from the Selson Engineering Company
Ltd. 
In
the Photograph above the allotment gardens can clearly be seen surrounding the
west & south side of the industrial buildings. The Selson Engineering Company Ltd was located in St Georges Road between
the Gosford Park Hotel and Grocery store at No 134, this area is now
occupied by a housing estate known
as Firedrake Croft which is situated between Northfield Road & Humber
Avenue. Secretary
W B Rainbow, 10 Cash's Lane. 1914 The
Coventry Loop Line is opened. 1914
- 1918 When
the 1914-18 war broke out, there was a demand for allotments and the committee
was successful in obtaining more land from the Coventry Corporation, which
extended to Folly Lane ( now Humber Road ) and the Railway and the Pinley side (
Castle Hill South ) the East Side now part of the Seven Stars Industrial Estate. 21st
December 1931 Permission
requested by the London Road Allotment Society Ltd to carry out certain
drainage works. 26th
June 1933 Mr W B Rainbow
stated that the London Road Allotment Society are anxious to be relieved of the tenancy
of a small field of about 3 acres near the tunnel under the Coventry Loop Line,
which owing to the situation and the nature of the soil, is not suitable for
allotment purposes. The Society asked whether the land would be of use for any
Corporation activities. 20th
November 1933 Permission
requested by the London Road Allotment Society to remove certain trees. This was
referred to the Estates and Parliamentary Committee as they had ultimate control
over the land. 31st
March 1939 A
statement by the Coventry Small Holdings and Allotments Subcommittee. The
total area of Allotments provided is approximately 265 acres. Of this, approximately
79 acres are let to individual tenants and the remaining 186 acres are let to
Allotment Societies. 19th
September 1938 Notification received
of the Humber Road widening scheme. The road is to be widened to 64 feet, for
which the London Road Allotment Society will lose approximately 700 sq yards.
The area of the lease is 50 acres. The Society will be offered a new lease of 47
acres for 14 years from the 25th March 1939. The annual tenancy will be
apportioned by the loss of 3 acres. 28th
February 1951 A letter was
written to R Britain by the Council explaining that they had approved a piece of
land for allotment purposes situated in Shortley Road and which was used by the
parks department as a nursery garden. The frontage of the land on to Shortley
Road is to be used for building purposes. The letter asks if this can be
discussed by the London Road Allotment Association Committee to approve responsibility
and to administer the new allotment site. 30th
November 1983 The East
side ( Castle Hill South ) which stretched from Humber Road, alongside the Railway Track
towards Allard Way is taken back by Coventry Council for the Severn Stars
Industrial Estate development. This reduces the site to about 32 acres. 13th
November 2006 The LRAA Allotments
in Coventry Website goes live. 18th
August 2007 The
London Road Allotment Association's first Open Day is held.
22nd December 2007
Father Christmas visits the
London Road Allotment Association. 12th
April 2008 The
London Road Allotment Association's Seed Swap Event is held.
9th May 2009 Pre-season Open
Day held.
Visitors took a peek behind the hedges to wander 19 acres of allotment gardens.
Children were given Sun Flower & Pumpkin seeds to enter our August Competition.
Seed swap, Barbeque & plant sales were also held. Secretary Julian Humphreys,
said "we're throwing the gates open so visitors can see what modern allotments
are capable of".
|
