Site Plan
The plan opposite shows a total of 260 available plots, with a further 11 plots worth of community space. The plan is slightly out of date but is 99% accurate. Of the 260 plots 20 or so are in such a bad state that no one has taken them up in recent times, though occasionally some pioneer plot holder will take on one of these plots and bring them back into the mainstream.
The plot numbering system was devised to accommodate four Site Secretaries, each taking plots beginning with the digits 1 to 4. There is now only one Site Secretary, but the residual numbering system persists - unfortunately!
Community Plots
A number of organisations have plots set up specifically to serve the community.
Help the Aged have plots 119 and 120. These are subdivided into sub plots roughly 4ft x 14ft. Anyone over the age of 50 can apply to work one of these sub plots. Rent is free and there is a shared hut and greenhouse.
TRAP (Together Residents Allotment Partnership) have a similar set up, but they have 6 plots (plots 271, 272 and 252-257) and there is no age restriction. For more details contact Ian Jones at Royal Standard House, 334 New Chester Road, Birkenhead, CH42 1LE: tel. 0151 644 4830 or e-mail Ian.Jones@lctogether.org.uk.
Kidscape has a plot used by local children under 16. Under supervision they get the opportunity to get to know about allotmenteering, fresh air - and have fun too.
History
The Bebington Road Allotment site was acquired by the Council on 24 July 1929 from R. G. Orred , deed reference O.5.17. That land included not only the allotments but also the land where houses are now built on Bebington Road and Alexandra Drive.
Prior to 1929 the site was farmland, possibly a farm specialising in pig
breading. The map shows how the area looked in 1889, with the allotment site comprising
fields 74, 76 and 77 less the land for houses later built on Alexandra Drive,
Bebington Road and Cavendish Drive. Also included is a part of field 79, by the
Dentists on Borough Road. (Click the map for close-up.) The cottage that is now 83 Cavendish Drive is thought to be the old
farm house, and this can be seen clearly on the map as can the Dentist's. Also
on the map is the terrace that now has Fairs Cameras at the end and the
detached house that is now Stephenson's Funeral Directors. More than half the
houses in Edgerton Park and Bebington Road still remain but all those on
Alexandra Drive have now gone.
There are stories about the site being owned by a railway company for
its workforce back in 1907/08, but there's no known documentary evidence for this;
perhaps the company rented land from the farm.
There are also stories that railway
carriages were used on site during the 2nd World War.
If you know more, or have any early photo's of the site we'd love to hear from you.
DENTISTS FAIRS CAMERAS