75 yeas of Wheatley Hills Allotments Association 1939-2014

Wheatley Hall was demolished around 1933 at a time when much of lower Wheatley was already well served by extensive allotment gardens, to the east of the town centre. By the onset of the Second World War it is assumed the the extra need for cultivation demanded more allotments. A new allotment site took on the name of Borrill Avenue, an avenue of trees running along side the carriageway to the former Hall from area of the present day D.I.Y shop on Thorne Road, near Thornhill Road, Wheatley Hills.

We have a show schedule from the 3rd Annual Show of the Borrill Allotments dated Sunday 30th August 1942, showing that it was likely that the site was set up during the first few months of the war (1939-1940).

After the war, when it was decided that Crompton Parkinson's works would remain, and that new houses would need to take priority, allotment holders were given assurances that when the time came, new sites should be found. This statement was made by the then Mayor of Doncaster, F.C. Trotter at the Borrill Avenue Allotment Association (Wheatley Hills)Victory Show (Assumed to be 1945).

It is assumed that the site as we know it today was formed sometime between 1945 and 1947. This new site was situated between the International Harvester Factory (Later J.I. Case and then McCormick) and the Sewage Treatment Works at Sandall. The Old river Don lying to the North with the South Yorkshire Navigation beyond and to the south, the recently extended Wheatley Lane (Now Wheatley Hall Road). Our first surviving minute books date from Sunday 7th December 1947. At this time, the site only extended to approximately plot No. 73, the rest still being under pasture an grazed by horses.

During the late 1940's or early 1950's the site was extended to plot No. 99. There were also a number of plots on what is now amenity grassland between the rear of the houses on Truro Avenue and the businesses, either side of Crompton Road.

Sometime around the 1950's plot No. 1 and the site for the sale hut was sold off by the council to Firecraft to extend their building and yard. Another 2 plot numbers (71 and 72) were also lost due to the Water Board Gaining access to the lagoon area in the centre of the site. (although only 1 actual plot was taken up by this, the other plot was absorbed by No.70). The actual number of plots fell to 96.

In 1975 the demand for allotments was spurred on by the renewed interest in healthy living and no doubt by programmes such as the Good Life! The final addition to the site was made of 12 new 300 sq yard plot,s taking the plot numbering up to 111 but with an actual number of 108 full size plots for rent when those lost to development were taken into account. These were located on a portion of land owned by, but cut off from, International Harvesters (due to the Old River Don).

Since the late 1980's, the creation of car parks has taken up 2 1/4 plots, but No.71 has been reinstated by a reduction in size of plot No.70 which effectively leaves us with 106 3/4 full size plots for rent. Many more are now let as half plots in order to give more people a chance of having a plot and also to give people a chance who do not have time for a larger garden.

Until recent years, the annual Vegetable Show had been a fixture, something we would like to reinstate. There have been three sets of sale huts at the entrance, old railway wagons gave way to wooden sheds and today we have the steel containers with mains connected. The site has always had water laid on but we hope soon to have a toilet.

 Researched and written By Andrew Hill Lettings Officer