Hainault's First Farmer cont.

Alison attempted to take advantage of the Agricultural Holdings Act and claimed £2,605 13s. 6d. for buildings and improvements, and for the inexhaustible value of manure put on the land. The Crown counter-claimed for £4,678 0s. 8d., citing dilapidation, foul land, and breeches of contract, stating that the farms were in a poor state due to bad farming methods. Gas lime, a by-product in the purification of town gas, had been used instead of manure, and improvements to buildings had been made without planning permission. Adjudicator, Mr. E.P. Squarey, weighed up evidence. With large sums involved other farmers paid close attention to the proceedings. Thomas Champness, representing Mr. Alison, and Mr. J.W. Komaly, for the Crown, waited for the ruling. The verdict favoured the Crown. Alison had to pay £3,475 12s. 8d. in damages, it being discovered that the gas-lime had little value as manure. No doubt, John Alison, cursed the day he heard of Agricultural Holdings Act and it probably made other farmers think twice before putting in their own claims.

Written by Raymond Small and Elaine Wiltshire. Thank you to Peter Comber for his illustration of the steam engine.