Allotments
The origin of the allotment movement in Chinnor lies within the second allotment movement which started nationally in 1830, but has sustained its influence on Chinnor’s nutrition and health until the present day.
Jeremy Burchardt has suggested that allotment produce provided a greater contribution to living standards, and by implication, health, than previously appreciated, whilst Ashby suggested a figure of 20-25 % of the diet of many families was directly supplied by the garden or garden allotment.
The Chinnor allotments played a vital role in World War ll. In 1854 an enclosure award was made for the ‘labouring poor of Chinnor’. They were referred to as the ‘labouring poor’ because, although they were employed, their economic level was still very low.
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The discovery and recovery of the old Chinnor Orchard
Donkey Lane orchard is situated on the eastern edge of Chinnor in Oxfordshire. It lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, on the south eastern side and adjacent to the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway line. Donkey Lane (also known as Keens Lane) leads, by way of a bridleway, to the Ridgeway long distance path.
The orchard is owned by Mr Derek Nixey of Manor Farm. The site is presently an unused, overgrown and much neglected historic orchard.
Access to the site can be difficult for not only is the site overgrown, but the orchard is situated by an unmade lane which is very wet and muddy in inclement weather and access is over a gated railway line.
Historically this area was known as Chinnor Crossing and the plot of land originally had several cottages which fell into ruin with only an ancient well left to mark the spot.
A survey in 2013 found 20 apple trees and a single plum tree with some of the trees possibly being over 150 years old
An old pagan tradition
As an ancient way of trying to ensure good harvests Wassailing can be seen as a continuation of much earlier fertility festivals - to awaken the trees after their winter sleep.
Wassaling is a very old traidition pacticed in the apple orchards of southern England during the winter, to bless the fruit trees and encourage them to produce a good harvest the following year. A lot of noise is made to ward off bad luck and mischievous spirits, so that they stay away and don't steal the apples. There would be some singing as well as feeding the local birds and giving the trees a drink. Wassails happen at an otherwise quiet time of year.
The work Wassail comes from the Old English 'Waes Hael' which means be Healthy or Be whole; this is now a toast we make for Good Health for all present and the apple trees. Dating back at least to the early Middle Ages Wassailing is a custom which almost died out but has lately revived and re-imagined for the 21st century. Orchard Wassailing can now be seen as an ancient folk custom which is all part of the countrywide year.
Back in the day Wassails were held at night, with bonfires being lit in the orchards and people carrying flaming torches. Such old customs could very between different villages, even between different farms, but they all encompassed singing, drinking and praising the trees with encouragement to do even better next year. Today Wassailing is celebrated during the day and the tradition has been revived in Chinnor.
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