THE FULHAM PALACE MEADOWS ALLOTMENT: A HISTORY SPECIAL THANKS TO SARAH NICHOLL-CARNE FOR THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF WORK THE AREA
Do you ever think, when you are digging your allotment, that just below your spade there could be Roman, Anglo-Saxon, or even Viking remains? For two thousand years, settlements have been recorded on the site of Fulham Palace Meadows (FPM).
 | In Roman times, Fulham was a woodland area, but between 43AD and 410AD there was a Roman settlement on the Meadows, and another across the Thames in Putney. The river was much wider in those days, and fully 12 feet lower than today, so it was easily forded at low tide. When the Romans withdrew from Britain in 410AD, Saxon immigrants gradually took over their settlement and the farmlands. |
In the 7th Century, there are records showing the first appearance of the name Fulanharn or Fulanham for the area, and in 701 the Manor of Fulham was given to the 5th Bishop of London, Bishop Waldhere. At that time the only church in the area was built on the site of All Saints (adjacent to FPM). Part of the current church dates back to c.1070, immediately after the Norman Conquest.
In 879 Viking raiders camped on the Meadow over the winter. They had been defeated in battle by King Alfred, and had retaliated by pulling down London Bridge (then the only Thames bridge), before rowing up to Fulham. They were responsible for digging the Moat around the Meadow. The following spring, the Vikings returned to Europe.
Between 1500 and 1520, Richard Fitzjames, Bishop of London, started construction of Fulham Palace; it was one of the earliest brick buildings in England.
 | Henry Compton was Bishop of London from 1675 - 1713. He was also responsible for the new, Anglican settlers in North America, and, as a keen gardener, arranged to have rare plants & trees sent back from the colonies for his Palace gardens. During this time, several large houses were built along the Fulham Road, and at Parsons Green. The area from Hammersmith right across to Bagley's Lane in SE Fulham was becoming known for nursery gardens – specimen plants & trees rather than food crops. |
By the mid-1800s there were market gardens, orchards, nurseries and grazing covering the area. The present houses and streets around Fulham Palace started to appear in the 1890s, and were completed within 20 years.
THE MEADOW
From the 8th century onwards, the Meadow was used as grazing land for the Bishop’s animals, and this continued until 1916, when, during the Great War, Bishop Winnington- Ingram gave the Meadow to the people of Fulham as part of an early “Dig for Victory” campaign. After the War, the allotmenteers petitioned the Bishop to be allowed to continue. He agreed, subject to a rent increase from 5 shillings to 10 shillings per annum. His diary notes that he must be the only landlord in history who doubled his tenants’ rent and was cheered to the rafters.
From then on, the incumbent Bishop became President of the FPMAA and attended most AGMs until 1972. In 1958 the Bishop sold the freehold to Fulham Borough Council.
 | In 1973 the last Bishop to occupy Fulham Palace moved out, and ownership passed to LBH&F The Ancient Monuments Act of 1979 protects FPMA from development. It is the largest unexplored Anglo-Saxon site in the country. There are 406 plots of approx. 5 rods (30m x 8m). By custom, allotments nationally are 10 rods, but Bishop Winnington decided that the smaller size gave more people the chance of a plot. |
In 1960 the rent per plot was 5 shillings (down from 10/- in 1918). The 2007 rent is still a bargain at ÂŁ18 per annum.
SNIPPETS FROM THE MINUTES
March 1950 The committee ordered 350 dozen tomato plants @ 4 shillings per dozen, which were sold to members for 4/6 per dozen.
Does this sound familiar? August 1950, the dumping of rubbish by the main gate was a problem.
1951 The price of tomato plants had jumped to 5/- per dozen, and it was agreed that the Church Commissioners would sell 2 acres of the Meadow to allow the building of St Mark’s School.
1953 Permission given for one hive of bees to be kept on Mr Ramsey’s plot. 1955 6 more hives authorised on 2 other plots.
 | An amendment to the Rules, dated 20 February 1955 states : “No persons other than a married man or widower shall be granted tenancy of a plot on this Meadow”.The first female tenant was admitted in 1970. Also in 1955, a cycle rack at the main gate is proposed and discussed at several meetings. Finally installed in 51 years later. |
October 1962 Mr Parker (Plot 103) is thanked for his efforts shooting wood pigeons, and the committee voted to buy more cartridges for his shotgun, so that he could continue. However, in June 1965, the Bishop complains of shooting early on Sunday mornings.
March 1963, The Council wished to build a swimming pool, which would have involved the loss of several plots. They were offered some new land, for 20 plots, in exchange. These were to be “statuatory allotments.”
July 1973, 2 sickles were purchased “for general use”. Also “Plot 82 suspected of growing King Edwards”.
At that time, there were no sheds, only tool boxes sited along the fence; no soft fruit was allowed, or “permanent crops”, and all vegetables had to be grown in double rows. Soft fruit was only permitted in the last 10 years.
More in demand than ever, here’s to the next 90 years.