School children are being taught how plant a vegetable garden and farmers markets are suddenly in vogue.

But the benefits of growing fruit and vegetables, rather than relying on shop-bought produce, has never been a secret from Driffield’s Spellowgate Allotment plot holders.

The allotments were founded in 1933 when businessman and county councillor, Mr HJ Taylor, bought a 16-acre field in Spellowgate which was then divided into allotments for use by the unemployed.

There was little work in Driffield during the Great Depression of the 1930s and many of the town’s residents were relying upon soup kitchens for food.

To comply with the law a rent was set at two shillings per year and a committee, which is today chaired by Colin Maughan, was voted in to administrate the 80 plots.

Mr Taylor’s daughter, Kathleen, drew names from a hat so the first plots were allocated fairly and allotments were officially opened on March 4, 1933, by the family. Kathleen Megginson, who is now 94, continues to be involved with the allotments and attended the 75th anniversary celebrations this month.

In a re-enactment of the 1933 opening day Kathleen was presented with a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon and walked under an archway of hoes held aloft by plot holders, just as her mother did 75 years ago.

Tony Ives, chairman of the Spellowgate Allotments 75th Anniversary Committee, said committee members had only realised 2008 was the 75th anniversary due to an article published recently in the Driffield Times.

Peep at the Past

He said: “Thankfully the Driffield Times republished an article written 50 years ago saying that the allotments had celebrated their 25th year or we wouldn’t have known that this was our 75th year.

“I spent two days at the Driffield Time office archive and what I found was pure history. It made fantastic reading.”

He praised Mr Taylor’s generosity and led the preparations to hold the special celebrations.

“Driffield should remember what a generous benefactor they had in Coun Taylor,” he said.

“He stepped forward to help when no-one else had any answers to the problem of unemployment in the Great Depression.”

Now the allotments boast 120 plots and a waiting list of 19 people.

And according to the secretary of Spellowgate Allotments, Bill Walker, Driffield’s plot holders are made up of the stereotypical retired man - many younger people have fallen in love with the idea of growing their own food.

He said: “We currently have 120 plots let with a mixture of old and young, but it’s nice that we all now know the history of our association.