Munday’s Close

You will be aware that the land (now Munday's Close) was formerly allotment plots. Allotments came into being, largely in the 1830s and ‘40s, as a result of the changes in land usage following the earlier Enclosures Acts. Richard Westbrook Baker, Steward to Lord Gainsborough, builder of Langham Brewery and inventor of the Ransome Plough, is thought to have been responsible for the first allotments in Langham. These were on the Ashwell Road in a small field of about four acres, next to the stream in the hollow giving rise to the names Allotment Hollow and Allotment Hill. This field eventually proved too small and land lying between Mickley Lane and Burley Road was brought into use.

In 1925, when much of the Gainsborough Estate was sold, Tom Munday who had a butchery business in the village purchased two parcels of land (Lots 42 & 43).

Lot 42 was described as “An Enclosure of Allotment Gardens, being No. 251 on the Ordnance Survey and containing 5a. 1r. 23p. very conveniently situate near to the Village of Langham, abutting the Burley Road, and producing a total gross Rental of £14 1s 0d per annum. Tithe present value 16s 9d. Land Tax as assessed.” The sale price was £255.

Lot 43 “A Close of Highly Productive Arable Land Being No. 252 on the Ordnance Survey and containing 3a. 3r. 22p. conveniently situate near to the Village of Langham, abutting the Burley Road, as now in the occupation of the Representatives of the late Mr. E. S. Smith, at an (apportioned) Rental of £10 per annum. Tithe (present value) 5s. Land Tax as assessed.” The sale price was £160.

On Tom’s death the land was inherited by Eric Munday, head brewer for Messrs. Ruddles. Eric built a bungalow on the corner of Mickley Lane and Burley Road.

In 1974 the Parish Council began negotiations to purchase what had been Lot 42, due to the demand for allotments and the need for a playing field. This was agreed in 1975 when, as well as providing fifteen additional allotments, bringing the total to forty, it provided the land for the children’s playing field and space which was later to become the Burial Ground.

During the 1980s Langham Gardeners’ Association was formed specifically to take on responsibility for the allotments on behalf of the Parish Council. It was eventually decided that eighteen of the original allotments, on rather poor land, should be closed.

In 1996, Marion Leigh, a Parish Councillor, asked if it might be possible to plant, what she originally referred to as a bluebell wood. The suggestion was put on hold until decisions on the future of the spare land had been made. Marion was one of the original volunteer group which brought into being Langham Woodlands.

Thanks to Mike Frisby, Langham Village History Group, for providing this information