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The Gardens of the British Working Class


Synopsis


This magnificently illustrated people's history celebrates the extraordinary feats of cultivation by the working class in Britain, even if the land they toiled, planted, and loved was not their own. Spanning more than four centuries, from the earliest records of the laboring classes in the country to today, Margaret Willes's research unearths lush gardens nurtured outside rough workers' cottages and horticultural miracles performed in blackened yards, and reveals the ingenious, sometimes devious, methods employed by determined, obsessive, and eccentric workers to make their drab surroundings bloom. She also explores the stories of the great philanthropic industrialists who provided gardens for their workforces, the fashionable rich stealing the gardening ideas of the poor, alehouse syndicates and fierce rivalries between vegetable growers, flower-fanciers cultivating exotic blooms on their city windowsills, and the rich lore handed down from gardener to gardener through generations. This is a sumptuous record of the myriad ways in which the popular cultivation of plants, vegetables, and flowers has played-and continues to play-an integral role in everyday British life.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Allotment Garden: A History

* History of allotment gardens from their origins in the 18th century to the present day.
* Example: The St. Paul's churchyard allotments in London, established in 1795.

Chapter 2: The Design and Function of the Allotment Garden

* Layout and design principles of allotment gardens.
* Example: The allotment garden of Bob, a retired engineer in Birmingham, featuring a vegetable plot, fruit trees, and a small pond.

Chapter 3: The Social and Cultural Significance of the Allotment Garden

* Allotment gardens as community spaces and sources of social interaction.
* Example: The annual Harvest Festival held at the allotments in the town of Melton Mowbray.

Chapter 4: The Garden as a Haven

* Allotment gardens as places of relaxation and escape from everyday life.
* Example: The allotment of Sarah, a busy doctor in London, where she finds solace and inspiration.

Chapter 5: The Garden as a Source of Food

* The importance of allotment gardens for food production.
* Example: The allotment cooperative in the city of Bristol, where members collectively grow vegetables and share the harvest.

Chapter 6: The Garden as a Learning Environment

* Allotment gardens as educational resources for gardening and horticulture.
* Example: The gardening classes offered by the Royal Horticultural Society at its allotment site in London.

Chapter 7: The Garden as a Place of Creativity

* Allotment gardens as spaces for experimentation and artistic expression.
* Example: The allotment garden of Pete, a graphic designer in Manchester, where he uses recycled materials to create unique garden features.

Chapter 8: The Future of the Allotment Garden

* Threats and challenges facing allotment gardens.
* Example: The campaign to save the allotments in the London borough of Greenwich from redevelopment.

Chapter 9: The Legacy of the Allotment Garden

* The enduring impact and significance of allotment gardens in British culture.
* Example: The National Allotment Society, which represents and supports allotment holders across the UK.

Conclusion

* Summary of the key themes and arguments of the book.
* Emphasis on the vital role that allotment gardens play in the lives of working-class Britons.
* Call to action for preserving and supporting these valuable green spaces.