A brief history of Stockingford AA Ltd.

The following few paragraphs are taken from articles that appeared

in local papers at the time.

During the 1926 strike, when membership was over 2,000, £700 was paid out in food vouchers. In recent times membership had to be frozen at 4,500. With the opening of bigger club buildings, it is open again and applications are averaging 100 a fortnight.

Mr John Matts, general secretary said: ``The wonderful atmosphere here is really something. You could say that Stockingford family life has grown up with me.

``In the register you can trace old shareholders down to their grandchildren.

``We are not tied to politics or religion. All are welcome and that I believe is one of the reasons for our success.

`One of the founders still serving is 80 year old Mr James Wardle, who has been on the committee for 45 years''.

There was not a penny in hand when the opportunity arose to buy Church  Farm. This did not worry the allotment holders. Optimistically, they went from door to door in Stockingford selling shares and in nine days collected the £600 required as desposit.

The largest sum obtained was £30. The debt was soon paid off by selling frontage land, for housing in Ansley Road. To let people know where the entrance to the allotments initially was, a Cabbage was stuck on the end of a big pole, thus people were going to the Cabbage for the evening to attend their plots.

The  first club, the Institute was built in Church Road, for £1,000.

It opened in 1923, two adjoining houses were bought. One was converted into the smoke room, the other became the caretaker’s home.

While members continued to cultivate their allotments, other land was acquired and was laid out for sport, football, cricket, bowls and tennis.

Church Farm and 40 acres were rented to a farmer until 1959 by which time a £28,000 new `Cabbage’ in Church Road was built.

The farmhouse has now been converted into two flats. The farmland has been sold bringing in £50,000 to the once empty coffers of the Cabbage. A pleasant, new residential estate is spreading over the land. Yet 285 allotment plots are still being cultivated.

Later in 1963 a £50,000 luxury sports Pavilion was built. This has been a great boost to the Association’s club life. The Pavilion is surrounded by cricket and soccer pitches and bowling greens, the building is only a brief stroll  from the original club in Church Road. The Association sold 27 acres of land for private development, it enabled them to go ahead with a much bigger scheme.