When I first started working on the allotment I met an elderly lady who lived at the back of our site. Her husband was used to have a plot and to make his life easier as he got older he made a gate in his back fence to come to the site. He died some years ago but Enid, his widow, came to see us all, have a chat and give me some empty jam jars she saved for me. In return I always gave her some of my veg – I think she was lonely and coming to see us reminded her of times gone by.
If I remember correctly she told me that a long time ago, around the year 1900 or even earlier, before our area became an allotment area it was a rubbish tip. That would explain things I keep finding. Alas, nothing of great value, no Saxon hoard but
clay pipes!
They are very fragile, nevertheless some bowls survived and even after a number of years digging there, they keep coming. I’m sure I’ll find some more this year. I was tempted with the ‘no dig’ method but decided against it, just to see what else might come up.
Never lose hope and keep digging!
I might know how it happened.
There was an old man living on the plot. He used to dig a lot and to make a break sometimes he used to smoke his clay pipe. But clay pipes are heavy creatures to be carried around in the pocket while digging. So he used to put down his pipe, but – as he was old – he always forgot where he left it. And he went to the market (not supermarket!) and bought a new pipe. And again a new pipe. And again …