Historic finds
Here is a collection of the artefacts we have found over the last few years.
On the allotment we often find old bottle stoppers, They are black and often have a maker's mark on the top. They were used in various bottles dating from around 1900 - 1950s. Read more
Golden Wonder new for 1971 Baked Bean crisps and Smiths Horror bags
During clearance work on the allotment we have found many items including crisp packets from the 1960s, 70s and later. Read more
I have found quite a few poison and medicine bottles during the years. To see some of the bottles, like the ones shown below, Read more
In 2016, I found 2 bottle fragments from a local grocer W.B Hieatt who had a shop on the Uxbridge road from around 1880-1900. After his death in 1902 his son Charles Hieatt and a Mr. Gregory renamed the Business Hieatt and Gregory. Image below from 1910 in Ealing Broadway and bottle fragment from W.B Hieatt grocer. Read more
I have found a fair few coins and badges and been given some by other plot holders. The oldest we have found is a 1869 One penny, we have also found some military buttons. Read more
Plot markers
Every plot has a marker to show the number of the plot. Our current marker is an aluminium with engraved numbers fixed to a steel bar. I believe the old maintenance manger "Vince" put these markers in during the 1980s, as he told me a story of how he moved plot holders from the old site on the west of Northfield avenue at that time.
There are older cast iron plot markers with embossed numbers that often turn up on plots, they are older and usually have broken stems. I have found, what I believe is, an even older plot marker near the fence line which has no embossed numbers, which can only mean It had painted numbers at some time.
Below are the three types of plot markers we have found on the allotments. Left: long plain, middle: embossed short stem and right: modern aluminium. centre image: long plot marker found buried below ground. Far right image: plot markers comparison
I guess the main question would be: How old are each type of plot marker?
Well, the real answer is we don't know, but we do know some facts about the different types which can give us some general clues to their age.
Let's start with the newest,
The Aluminium markers, The age: I would say late 1970s to early 1980s. The materials are typical for that period, they are numbered from 146-214 (1-145 would have been on the west side of Northfields ave. and work started in the mid 1970s through to the 1980s) The "top plots" by Mattock lane were redivided by "Vince" the old site maintenance manger and do not follow the 1940s layout, so he added these markers.
The short Cast iron embossed markers, The age c.1940 earliest date 1910. I cannot be sure about the date, but we do know they must be after 1910 because they have the same numbering system as today that is, starting from 146, this means they must be after 1910 as Dean Gardens were created in 1910, and they took plots away for the gardens, with these plot removed our number starts at 146 otherwise it would start at around 172 as we lost 26 plots.
The Long plain cast iron markers. The age c.1910 or before. Haslemere allotments were created in 1910, and they have found a few of these type of plot markers. These markers are very long, so they would have stood about 12 inches above the ground, this would make it easier to spot above weeds or grass. I have found two, both in a similar position by the fence.
Although there are some mentions of plot markers in committee meetings during the late 1800s, nothing is spoken of the type, so for now plot markers have more questions than answers . . . the mystery continues.
I have found many milk bottles over time and the largest amount are Jobs milk bottles, not surprising as they had a depot a "stone's throw" away in Leighton road. Find out more about the depot, bottles and people who worked there . . . Read more
