Hoxton Manor allotment site was established in 1957 when council playing fields were dug up to provide gardens for plot holders from a site being sliced through by the Ruckholt Road. There were also 'Dig for Victory' allotments there in the Second World War. Early in the 20th century the playing fields were set up by Hackney philanthropist Major Charles Villiers for the Hoxton Manor boys club. Before that the land was a dairy meadow on the Salisbury Hall estate, a manor since mediaeval times.

Originally the site was playing fields which were set up by Hackney philanthropist Major Charles Villiers on land he bought which was previously a dairy farm. He wanted to provide a green space for the boys from Hoxton Manor Boys Club in the 1930s.

The site was founded to accommodate plot holders displaced from the Eton Manor allotments (also established originally from land provided by Major Villiers) which were sliced through by the building of the Ruckholt Road.

In the early 20th century the site was a meadow of a dairy farm, part of the Salisbury Hall estate. Salisbury Hall stood near the Crooked Billet until 1952, getting more and more rundown until it was eventually demolished by the council. Salisbury Hall had been a manor since mediaeval times, and at one time was owned by Henry VIII.

All over Britain land was dug up to grow vegetables in the World War II 'Dig for Victory' campaign. Plot holder Roger Weatherly who has lived in one of the neighbouring houses nearly all of his life vividly remembers what happened. 'They ripped up the tennis courts, knocked down the cricket pavilion and dug up the cricket pitch and playing fields, and turned it all into allotments.' Read more about Dig for Victory on the Home Sweet Home Front website, and a World War II site info on rationing, see info about the Dig for Victory allotments that were run until 2008 and are now demonstration allotments at St James Park .

Have you got any memories of the allotment site and the area? We would love to hear from you if you do - contact us

This year we celebrate 50 years since the site was established as an allotment site. Read more

We have established a communal quiet remembrance garden on the site to honour the memory of previous plot holders, including founder members who have passed on.

If you want to find out more about local history, contact your local archives department, in Hackney, Waltham Forest, or Access to Archives