Oakley Road Gate
Oakley Road is a sloping site. It is as well tended as a country churchyard.
Well tended
On reflection that is not surprising as it is next to the Victoria Road Cemetery. In 1925 the Markets and Estates Committee agreed the use of one and a quarter acres of cemetery land for allotments for a £3 per annum budget transfer (1). The allotments are not on the 1913 Ordnance Survey map of the area but by 1932 are marked. This would appear to date their origin to the late 1920s.
One of the water tanks
I had the site to myself when I visited. The distinguishing feature was its selection of water tanks with a common theme. Water supply on allotments is a key service for tenants and water storage styles vary from site to site.
Another water tap
Reading council operates a three-tier rental structure based on the availability of water. The most expensive rentals are for sites with water within 30m of each allotment. Allotments with no water supply cost almost half as much. Investment in water supplies and their improvement was often referred to in the minutes of the council committee looking after allotments.
For example, in April 1948 the total expenditure on water supply to temporary (war time) allotments had been £1,005 13s 2d (£1,005.66) over the years 1941/42 to 1947/48. On these allotments, rents had been increased by 3d per pole leaving a deficit of £181 7s 11d (£181.40) met from the general rate fund (2). The 2005 Allotment Plan included an action to replace the water supply with self filling tanks. Here and at the many other sites that this action was proposed it has now been deleted because of problems for the less fit(3).
Another water tank
FACT PANEL
| No. of plots: (4) | 32 of varying sizes |
| Full plot equivalent: (5) | 17.3 |
| Date allotments established: | Late 1920s.First appear on 1932 OS map. |
| Date taken on by Council: | 1925 |
| Previous use: | Allocated to Caversham cemetery |
| Status: (6) | Statutory |
References:
(1) Small Holdings and Allotments Committee Minutes. R/AC1/3/34. (BRO)
(2) Allotments and Small Holdings Committee Minutes R/AC1/3/98. (BRO)
(3) November 2008 Report to the Green City and Open Spaces Forum, 19 November 2008. Allotment Provision and Plan Update. Director of Environment Culture and Sport.
(4) Reading Borough Council 2005 Allotment Plan.
(5) November 2008 Report to the Green City and Open Spaces Forum, 19 November 2008. Allotment Provision and Plan Update. Director of Environment Culture and Sport.
(6) Reading Borough Council 2005 Allotment Plan.
PDF Version here
Reading Allotments 