Inventory Site Record

Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments originated as a gift in 1916 from the Bishop of London, owners of the adjacent Fulham Palace from AD701-1973. There is evidence of human activity here for some 2,000 years, with a Roman settlement on the Meadow between AD43 and 410, after which the land was used by Saxon farmers and from the C8th as grazing land for the Bishop's animals. The granting of land for allotments to the people of Fulham was part of an early Dig for Victory campaign in WWI, following which the Bishop agreed to continue this use. There are now 406 plots run by Fulham Palace Meadows Allotment Association, the President of which was the incumbent Bishop of London until 1973 when occupancy of Fulham Palace ceased and it was sold to Hammersmith & Fulham Council.

Previous / Other name:

The Warren

Site location:

Entrance from Fulham Palace, off Bishops Avenue

Postcode:

SW6 6EA

What 3 Words:

vets.events.rips

Type of site:

Private Open Land

Borough:

Hammersmith & Fulham

Open to public?

Occasionally

Opening times:

private
Has taken part in Open Garden Squares Weekend 14 times, most recently in 2024.

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Has opened for OGSW

Public transport:

Tube: Putney Bridge (District). Bus: 14, 22, 74, 414, 430

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/06/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.fulham-allotments.org

Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments originated as a gift from the Bishop of London in 1916, the owners of Fulham Palace (q.v.) from 701 AD to 1973. There is evidence of human settlement here for some 2,000 years, with a Roman settlement on the Meadow between AD43 and 410, after which the land was used by Saxon farmers. Due to the historical importance of the site allotment-holders are not permitted to dig below a certain depth, and growing of trees is restricted. The name Fulanharn or Fulanham is first recorded in the C7th and in 701 when the Manor of Fulham was granted to the 5th Bishop of London, Bishop Waldhere, there was a church on the site of the current church of All Saints (q.v.). In the winter of 879 Viking raiders camped on the Meadow following their defeat in battle by King Alfred. They had demolished London Bridge, the only bridge over the Thames at that time, before rowing up the Thames to Fulham and while here they dug the Moat. Fulham Palace, which is reputed to be the largest moated site in Europe, was built between 1500-20 by Bishop Richard Fitzjames, one of the earliest brick buildings in England. Henry Compton who was Bishop from 1675-1713 was a keen gardener and arranged for rare plants to be shipped back to him from the colonies of Anglican settlers he was responsible for in North America. Before the late C19th when housing development in Fulham built over much of the area it was known for its nursery gardens, particularly for specimen plants and trees, and by the mid-C19th market gardens, orchards, nurseries and grazing covered the area. Due to the historical importance of the site allotment-holders are not permitted to dig below a certain depth.

From the C8th onwards the Meadow was used as grazing land for the Bishop's animals until 1916, when the land was granted by Bishop Winnington-Ingram to the people of Fulham as part of an early 'Dig for Victory' campaign during WWI. After the War, the allotment-holders petitioned the Bishop for continued use of the land and he agreed, subject to a rent increase from 5 to 10 shillings, although in 1960 it went down to 5 shillings again. The Fulham Palace Meadows Allotment Association (FPMAA) was set up to administer the allotments, the incumbent Bishop becoming President until 1972. In 1973 the last Bishop occupied the Palace, which became a Museum run by the Council. There are now 406 plots run by Fulham Palace Meadows Allotment Association, on average 5 rods in size (30m x 8m), half the national size of allotments but Bishop Winnington made the decision in order to give more people the chance of a plot. In 1951 2 acres of the Meadow were sold by the Church Commissioners when St Mark's School was built but in 1958 the freehold of the allotments was sold to LB Hammersmith & Fulham. In 1953 one of the allotment-holders was permitted to have a bee-hive on his plot, and others followed, but this has since been prohibited. The first female plot holder arrived in 1970, hitherto permitted tenants were male although from 20 February 1955 only married men or widowers could take a plot. It was Highly Commended in the 2006 Daily Mail National Garden Competition.

Sources consulted:

Sarah Nicholl-Carne, 'A History' on Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments website

Grid ref:

TQ241762 (524170,176210)

Size in hectares:

5.87

Site ownership:

LB Hammersmith & Fulham, leased to Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments Association

Site management:

Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments Association

Date(s):

1916

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

SAM

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Bishop's Park

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Thames Policy Area

Other LA designation:

Open Space of Borough-wide Importance

Fulham Palace Meadows Allotments - Photo: Diana Jarvis
Date taken: 28/08/15 11:03

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