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Witton and District Allotments Limited

Barry Page

Barry Page

proper brummie kid
Hello:

Does anyone have any information about Witton and District Allotments Limited?

My late step-grandfather, Victor Thomas Crawford, was the Company General Secretary of Witton and District Allotments Limited in the 1930s.

All I know is that Witton and District Allotments Limited was the main grocery product growers and suppliers to the Birmingham city markets.

Thanks and best regards.

- Barry :)
 
Witton Allotments.

:D Were they the ones at the back of the Barn Social or the ones off Holdford Drive. My old friends grandad used to manage the Barn many years ago and also kept pigs there. If it is this one I am still in touch with his grandaughter Denise. Bye for now. Jean.:D
 
My late father in law had an allotment on the land behind the Barn during the war years, he and his next door neighbour kept a pig on it. They were suposed to keep half of the pig and give the other half to the Ministry of Food, but there was always a scam to hide the pig and not report the slaughter.:)
 
Oh yes Di, my uncle Jack, Mom's brother lived with us for 30 years after Dad died. He was a slaughter man and butcher he told me many stories about these hidden animals. At the end of the war when he left the RAF there was in great demand of his services as a slaughter man! My mother would go mad when he told me these tales she didn't hold with it at all.
 
Quote All I know is that Witton and District Allotments Limited was the main grocery product growers and suppliers to the Birmingham city markets.

I would have to doubt that statement, the markets were supplied with produce from all over the Country.
 
I believe there were many allotment clubs. My husband went to Saltley amateur gardeners club in the early 60's which was an allotment club.......he was only in his twenties and not at all interested in gardening. I think some were just good social clubs.
 
witton allotments

my dad had a allotment on Brookevale road in the 1940 s we used to go there a lot it was close to end of the Ridgeway lots of houses there now Allen
 
allotments.

:D I found this old photo of my nan and step grandad by his allotment. They lived in Franchise Street Perry Barr. They used to walk across the train line to get to it. Bye. Jean.:D
 
:redface: Sorry Barry but Denise didn't get back. Pat said she uses face book now. Bye Jean. :redface:
 
Hi,

I believe that I had shares in that at some stage. I too am interested in learning more. My grandfather was a silversmith in the area and my father inherited some shares in W&D allotments.
 
Hello:

Thanks for getting in touch and expressing your interest. Unfortunately I don't have a great deal of information: only that my late step-grandfather, Victor Thomas Crawford, was the Company General Secretary of Witton and District Allotments Limited in the 1930s.

However, I do have a photo of him that I can share if you want to contact me privately at bjp1map@hurontel.on.ca.

My aunt's father, Joseph Henry Smith, was involved in the 'blacking' and 'Japanning' trades in the area, and I'm trying to trace this lineage. Any connections with your grandfather's silversmithing activities?

Kindest regards. - Barry
 
Hi Jennyann:

Many thanks for this important link. I will certainly write to the Web site's President and see if he can shed any light on my enquiry. I'll let you know if I'm successful.

Much appreciated - Barry
 
Barry two photo's of the allotments at Holdford Drive that have been there for years. Not very good ones as there was a stream of trafic on there way to the tip. There used to be two semi's there but they have been demolished. Jean.
 
Here are two more. It is a very large site surrounded with iron railings. A sign of the times I presume. Jean.
 
They look alright to me keep your hands still that's all or get out of the Car and lean on something like the car.
 
Alf was going to get out then from nowhere there came dustcarts and cars. Pete is taking us to the allotment by the Boars head next week [might even get to pop in for one] and will be able to pull up in the grove opposite. Jean. PS. Thanks for finding the thread for me Alf.
 
Hi Jean and Alf:

Many thanks for the photos. I really appreciate your (extraordinary) efforts to secure them, especially dodging the dust carts, etc. I hope you manage a pint or two at the Boar's Head, but take any pictures beforehand - we don't want any 'camera shake' as a result of a couple of Ansell's!

Talk to you later.

Barry
 
Barry my husband was one of the brewers at Ansells so I think he has got past the hands shaking bit in fact he does not drink in the house [or garden] when in Brum. Will do my best for the other allotement Barry. Bye. Jean.
 
Barry these are photo's I took on the way home today. These allotments are just up from the Boars Head Perry Barr. Jean.
 
Hi Jean:

Many thanks for the Perry Bar allotment photos. I think I have sufficient pictures now for my collection. Much appreciated.

Bye for now.

Barry
 
My late mother had shares in Witton & District Allotments - contact me via Instant messaging.

I believe that I had shares in that at some stage. I too am interested in learning more. My grandfather was a silversmith in the area and my father inherited some shares in W&D allotments.[/quote]
 
George another person to IM is Denise Hodson as her grandad ran the one at the Barn Social Club years ago and has many photo's she could share. His name was Mr Pugh and lived in Holte road. He also kept pigs there. Jean.
 
G G Jean said:
George another person to IM is Denise Hodson as her grandad ran the one at the Barn Social Club years ago and has many photo's she could share. His name was Mr Pugh and lived in Holte road. He also kept pigs there. Jean.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that Jean. I may follow that up at a later stage.. my reason for the IM was because of a delicate situation.
 
Hi everyone, have just been going through some boxes and found this photo of my grandad, Thomas Pugh feeding his pigs. I used to love going to the alloments at the weekend helping pick flowers and bunching them up ready for the people to come and buy. The pigs were always my favourite and I still love them.
Grandad always wore a tie and never went anywhere without his trilby on
Denise
 
Here should be a link to show the demise of the once extensive Witton Allotments associated with the Barn Social Club.

The area under construction is in line with Brookvale Road and once allotments. The houses in the background were also built on former allotment ground, as was the estate on the left.

Not sure at present the date that I took the photo.

Best wihes to all, Pedro



https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/album.php?albumid=244
 
Thanks for that Pedro. Denise will be very interested in that as her grandad kept the pigs there and had a lot to do with the barn. Jean.
 
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