A Timeline - 1900 to Present Day
A chronological record of significant events describing the development of
Sidlesham LSA from the 1930s until the present day.
Before the LSA
Edit DateEdit Asset
Prior to the arrival of the LSA there was a strong farming tradition in the area.
Some of the pre-existing farms included Bakers, Chalder, Church, Easton, Ferry, Fletchers, Great Ham, Greenwood, Haise, Halsey, Ham, Highleigh, Jury, Keynor, Marblestone, Marsh, Oakhurst, Porthole, Redgate, Rookery, Shotfold and Street End.
Chalk, Cow, Fletchers and Street End Lanes as well as First, Second or Third Avenues in Almodington did not exist at that time - they were built for the LSA.
12th Feb
1900
Population of Sidlesham
Edit DateEdit Asset
The population of Sidlesham in 1931 (Kelly's Directory) was 878
First LSA
Edit DateEdit Asset
Potten in Bedfordshire was the first LSA to be established, in 1934.
Sidlesham LSA started
Edit DateEdit Asset
Sidlesham LSA started with purchase of Keynor,
Batchmere & Street End Farms. 824 acres for £36,183
Hill Land, Tomlins & Shotford Farms also mentioned in the bill of sale.
First Arrivals
Edit DateEdit Asset
The first 'settlers' lived in Keynor Hut while they were being trained and their houses were being built. They were then joined by their wives and children. The photograph shows the first tenants with their familiar outside Keynor Hut. 15 of these families have been identified and contact has been made with the relatives of more than 30 of the original unemployed miners and shipbuilders who came to Sidlesham from the north-east of England and South Wales before the outbreak of World War two.
Roadbuilders
Edit DateEdit Asset
A team of roadbuilders, including Jos Aitchison, William Corner and Horace Hook arrived in Sidlesham to construct what are now Chalk, Cow, Street End and Fletchers Lanes in Sidlesham as well as First, Second and Third Avenues in Batchmere.
Stirland Builders (Birdham) was awarded the contract to build the LSA houses.
Here is The Land (film)
Edit DateEdit Asset
A film was produced to advertise the LSA scheme in Dole Offices and Poor Houses.
School expansion
Edit DateEdit Asset
A scheme for improvement of the school was carried out including the addition of four large 'sunshine' classrooms as the school role increased from 120 to 284.
Sidlesham School was the first school in England to serve hot meals - on account of the perceived malnourished the LSA children.
Return home
Edit DateEdit Asset
Entries in Sidlesham School's Admissions Records show that several of the early settlers 'returned north', 'went back to Abertillery', 'returned to Durham' as they were unable to adapt to the new way of life. They were replaced by more unemployed miners and shipbuilders until the outbreak of World War Two.
World War Two
Edit DateEdit Asset
The original objectives of the LSA to allocate smallholdings settlements to the unemployed was suspended in order to maximise food production at the outbreak of the war.
Vacant smallholdings were occupied by US and Canadian soldiers.
Some tenants had evacuees from London. including Cowan (No 10), Booth (No 15) and Dixon (No 50)
The Home Guard, comprising a number of LSA tenants, was based at both Keynor Hut and No 88 (Fletchers Lane).
Best Kept Holding
Edit DateEdit Asset
Henry Cloud (No 133) was awarded certificates for Best Kept Holding and Most Improved Holding in 1942/43
Dreams Come True
Edit DateEdit Asset
Film made at Abington LSA - available on Youtube (Ref: Dreams Come True (1944).
Post War Government Smallholdings Policy
Edit DateEdit Asset
Post War Government Smallholdings Policy
Qualifications, experience and 'money' required
(See application form in prospectus)
Batchmere FC
Edit DateEdit Asset
Batchmere FC - Charity Cup Winners in 1948.
Teams changed in the stables (now cottages at the entrance to First Avenue) and washed in the horse trough.
Karl Holly's son,Brian (No 100) could name the whole team and most of the spectators!
Population Change
Edit DateEdit Asset
Population of Sidlesham is 1,274, an increase of 400 since previous census in 1931. Number of families increased by 120, reflecting the arrival of the LSA.
Pound Inn
Edit DateEdit Asset
Pound Inn (Highleigh) closed in 1953. Sidlesham FC played on a nearby field and teams changed in the pub.
Worst Thunderstorms for 20 years
Edit DateEdit Asset
The worst thunderstorm to hit the Chichester area for twenty years roared on Tuesday night (10th January 1956) through Sidlesham 'the smallholders village' wreaking thousands of pounds worth of damage to greenhouses and farm buildings. Reported in the Chichester Observer article & The Hampshire Telegraph and Portsmouth Gazette with photo of Henry Grimes (No 84 Fletchers)
10th Jan
1956
Landers Garage
Edit DateEdit Asset
The petrol station on Selsey Road was called Lander's Garage in the 1950s.
The video show children playing on the grass verge and an absence of traffic on the B2145!
Tenants Newsletter
Edit DateEdit Asset
Anthony Dungey who lived at No 114 (Batchmere) edited a Tenants Newsletter in the 1960s. Amelia Littler wrote a moving account of the family's move south from Newcastle (See Stories No 32)
Tenants Newsletter (No 38 November 1966)
" A magazine for those Tenants of the Land Settlement Association who have at heart the well-being and unity of the Scheme and its community. STORMY WEATHER AT SIDLESHAM: Tuesday, 18th October. A day of high winds, squally Showers, torrential rain. About 5 p.m. Big storm coming over Batchmere. Just passing West of us and we watch, fascinated by cloud formations sweeping in from the sea. Rain and hail flinging down at the windows, bouncing in a misty • spray from the structure roofs. Thunder now and then. In maybe twenty minutes it has passed and we match the black clouds moving away over Sidlesham. It is all rather unusual but we suffer no damage. Just another one in the sequence of storms brewing in the last day or so. It was not quite the same across the fields at Sidlesham less than two miles away. What was described as a black ball of cloud swept across the fields, up to the Moldings on the Selsey road, and havoc began. The first Holding lost about 50 lights, the next double that, and the third, Mr. Evans', lost some 250 lights in five structures, and then it caught Mr. P.A. Stone's 90 x 30 and lifted it, so eye witnesses say, three times the height of the dwelling-house like a pack of cards. Passing on, the storm missed the next Holding to some extent but whipped off part of the tiled roof of The Anchor public house further on. It was a truly fortunate chance that everyone had gone in to tea, with the exception of a man working in an untouched Penland structure on Mr. Evans' Holding."
Sidlesham WI
Edit DateEdit Asset
Sidlesham WI (Keynor Hut) won the Gilchrist Cup for vegetable competition (LSA Bulletin No 615 Feb 1960)
1st Feb
1960
A27
Edit DateEdit Asset
Work started on the A27 Chichester By-Pass with top soil available to tenants in February (LSA Bulletin No 699). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . However, due to it's poor condition the order was canceled in March (LSA Bulletin No 701)
New Manager
Edit DateEdit Asset
John (Arthur Johnson Symington) Cox was appointed as LSA Manager (until 1965)
Fletcher's Hut
Edit DateEdit Asset
Fletchers Hut closed. "The Management Committee of Fletcher's Hut closed their accounts and handed the hut and stock to the LSA".
(LSA Bulletin No 815, June 1964)
1st Jun
1964
Amalgamation?
Edit DateEdit Asset
Possible amalgamation of Sidlesham & Andover LSA (Correspondence from LSA HQ in London at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), Reading University.
Whirlwind
Edit DateEdit Asset
Chichester Observer (October 21st) reports 'Havoc left as whirlwind hits village' with glasshouses flattened and the roof ripped off The Anchor pub.
1st Oct
1966
Wise Report
Edit DateEdit Asset
Departmental Committee of Inquiry into Statutory Smallholdings. The Wise Report was a comprehensive review of the 18 LSAs still in operation in 1967, resulting in closures and 10 LSAs remaining.
End of egg production
Edit DateEdit Asset
Last reference to price of eggs in LSA Bulletin (No 975, 21st July)
Large @2/2d.
1st Jul
1967
Last of the pigs
Edit DateEdit Asset
Last reference to pigs (Weaners) in LSA Bulletin 1017 (May 1968)
Combination of recurring outbreaks of swine flu and increasing costs of insurance.
1st May
1968
Sidlesham Sports & Recreation Association
Edit DateEdit Asset
On Tuesday 30th July we shall be holding our annual Pony Gymkhana and at 3.00pm the new pavilion building will be officially opened by Mr Christopher Chataway MP for the Chichester Constituency.(LSA Bulletin No 1,130)
30th Jul
1970
Southgate Growers established
Edit DateEdit Asset
Southgate Growers established with a membership of 7 former tenants who left the LSA to buy private nurseries in the local area and to set up their own independent company. The depot/packing shed was based on Sidlesham Lane.
Film
Edit DateEdit Asset
A film 'Grow with the LSA' was produced by Fisons with extracts from several LSAs, including Sidlesham.
The Future?
Edit DateEdit Asset
Minutes of the AGM of Sidlesham & Batchmere Tenants Association record "devastating losses incurred by various estates and overall decline in profitability. The growers are concerned that the LSA as a whole will soon be no longer viable."
(LSA Bulletin No 1555 September 1978)
1st Sep
1978
The Future is safe
Edit DateEdit Asset
Message from the Chairman of the LSA, DS Fletcher at LSA HQ in London: "I am confident that management is taking action to ensure our survival and eventual prosperity". (LSA Bulletin No 1744 May 1982)
1st May
1982
Tom Scott
Edit DateEdit Asset
Tom Scott, LSA Manager was awarded the MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours, May 1982.
11th May
1982
Proposed disbanding of the LSA
Edit DateEdit Asset
On December 2nd 1982, Peter Walker announced the proposed disbanding of
the LSA Estates to the House of Commons. All Estates were to be
encouraged to set up their own co-operatives which were to be running by 31st
March the following year.
“A fortnight before Christmas we heard it on the radio one morning that
all the LSA was going to close down. That’s the way we heard it from
the radio. What are you going to do? You just don’t know. And it meant
your packing shed was gone, your maintenance on the house, all those sort
of things that were just going to close. We were just left in the air. It
sorted itself out and I don’t know if it was for the good or for the bad.”
(Arthur Wilson (No 86) on Grime to Groceries BBC Radio 2001)
2nd Dec
1982
Sidlesham Growers
Edit DateEdit Asset
Following the closure of the LSA SIdlesham Growers with 89 of the former LSA tenants, led by Ernie Boxall (No 107 Batchmere) was formed.
The LSA Propagation Unit became Almodington Nurseries, managed by former LSA tenants.
Other LSAs set up similar co-operatives, for example: Cambridge Salad Producers (Abington LSA) & Yorkshire Salads (Snaith LSA)
Administration of the Estate.
Edit DateEdit Asset
"The administration of the estate is still the responsibility of the Estate Manager and marketing will continue until 30th April 1983. Mr Boxall and his committee have no jurisdiction on the estate, other than organising the new co-operative, until 1st May when they take over the marketing for members of the Co-operative". (LSA Bulletin No 2529)
31st Mar
1983
Compensation Claim
Edit DateEdit Asset
About half the tenants (nationally) took the minister to court alleging that his unilateral action was a breach of contract and claimed compensation for expenses arising from setting up their private businesses.
Auction
Edit DateEdit Asset
Sale of equipment following the closure of the LSA administered by King and Chasemore - items included a tractor and pairs of wellington boots.
7th Apr
1984
Sale of LSA properties
Edit DateEdit Asset
King and Chasemore managed the sale of 'vacant' LSA properties, including Keynor House, Batchmere House, Street End Barn, the Packing Shed and No 96 First Avenue.
26th Jan
1986
Storm damage
Edit DateEdit Asset
A 'Freak Storm' was reported in Chichester Observer (June 1983) with several glasshouses destroyed. Unlike during the LSA tenants were now responsible for their own insurance. Some were not and as a result left Sidlesham Growers.
Compensation Settlement
Edit DateEdit Asset
The ministry settled out of court, two months before the scheduled hearing about compensation. Payouts ranged between £10,000 and £55,000, but because it was an out-of-court settlement the 'successful' ex-tenants had to pay tax on their compensation.
LSA Story
Edit DateEdit Asset
'Sing and Sit Small' was written by Marianne Heath (No 54) about her experiences growing up on the LSA in Sidlesham.
BBC Radio
Edit DateEdit Asset
'From Grime to Groceries' with contributions from Sidlesham (Arthur Wilson, Rosie Ferret & Glad Downey) was broadcast on BBC Radio 1. A transcript is available.
1st Nov
2001
Maze
Edit DateEdit Asset
Richard Bushby (No 68) constructs a maze on his smallholding. It has been open every year since 2002 on the first Sunday in August, raising more than £36,000 (2019) for The Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society.
1st Aug
2002
Village sign
Edit DateEdit Asset
Village sign erected with one side celebrating the agricultural heritage of the village including an LSA house.
28th Dec
2012
Closure of Sidlesham Growers
Edit DateEdit Asset
One by one the former LSA tenants retired from Sidlesham Growers or left the area. The reduction in numbers eventually brought about its closure circa 2000, although it is still registered on Companies House website. Almodington Nurseries, the propagation unit for Sidlesham Growers continued trading until 2014.
Heritage Trail
Edit DateEdit Asset
A Heritage Trail has been created to commemorate the Sidlesham & Batchmere LSA. The launch of the trail was held at at Keynor (Farm) House with 250 former tenants, staff and their families in June 2015. The launch was previewed on both BBC South Today and BBC Radio Sussex.
A trail leaflet is available. Smartphone users can access an offline trail and/or a copy of the trail leaflet can be downloaded from the home page of this website.
27th Jun
2015
LSA Exhibition & Film
Edit DateEdit Asset
An exhibition explaining the development of the LSA, including our own film, was launched at the Novium Museum in Chichester on 9th November 2015. The film, which combines LSA archive footage and interviews with ex-tenants and staff, was made by Ben Cloud of Millstream Productions (Emsworth). Ben is the great grandson of Henry Cloud, a boiler maker from Palmers Shipyard in Jarrow, who came to Sidlesham in 1936.
9th Nov
2015
Weald and Downland Living Museum
Edit DateEdit Asset
An LSA house (No 144) was dismantled by staff and volunteers from the Weald and Downland Living Museum under the supervision of the curator Julian bell in the Autumn of 2017. The house is now in storage at the museum, awaiting funding to be re-erected.
The LSA house was the home of Godfrey Shirt, an LSA Manager responsible for Central Services, including transport. LSA lorries carried the first buildings to the Weald and Downland museum when it was established in the 1960s. Godfrey became a founder volunteer steward at the museum and his name is on a plaque outside Bayleaf House.
20th Sep
2017
The LSA Story
Edit DateEdit Asset
The LSA story (film and powerpoint presentation) has been told to more than 40 local history, gardening, Women's Institute and other groups in the Chichester area. A display about the LSA and the Sidlesham Heritage Trail featured at the Weald and Downland Living Museum's Rural Life weekends in May 2017 & October 2018 and an exhibition was staged in the museum's Michael Burton Gallery during September 2019.
The rebuild of the LSA house at the museum will ensure that the LSA Story has a permanent home.
18th Sep
2019
