Dunton Plotlands
Encyclopedia
The Dunton Plotlands was an area of small rural plots of land in southern Essex
inhabited from the 1930s to the 1980s.
The 'plotlands' consisted of small plots of land sold in the first half of the 20th century to people who built weekend cottages, holiday bungalows or smallholdings there. Many of the people building weekend cottages here would have come out from London
.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, many weekenders moved out to their plots on a permanent basis, to escape the worst effects of the Blitz. This period saw the Dunton population at its highest.
After the Second World War, the new town of Basildon
was created, encompassing the plotlands here and in the surrounding areas of Laindon
and Pitsea
. At the time, 25000 people lived in the whole area, often with unsurfaced roads and limited water supplies.
Dunton Plotlands is situated to the west of Laindon
and the Langdon Hills
, now on the edge of the Basildon district
.
Today, Dunton Plotlands is part of the Essex Wildlife Trust
's Langdon nature reserve. The Langdon Visitor Centre and the Haven Plotlands Museum housed in a converted bungalow exhibit the natural and social history of the area.
The Plotlands is still a wooded area where a small number of cottages, and some of the original grid of grass tracks remain. Visitors can look around a preserved bungalow. Many wildlife events are held throughout the year.
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
inhabited from the 1930s to the 1980s.
The 'plotlands' consisted of small plots of land sold in the first half of the 20th century to people who built weekend cottages, holiday bungalows or smallholdings there. Many of the people building weekend cottages here would have come out from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
With the outbreak of the Second World War, many weekenders moved out to their plots on a permanent basis, to escape the worst effects of the Blitz. This period saw the Dunton population at its highest.
After the Second World War, the new town of Basildon
Basildon
Basildon is a town located in the Basildon District of the county of Essex, England.It lies east of Central London and south of the county town of Chelmsford...
was created, encompassing the plotlands here and in the surrounding areas of Laindon
Laindon
Laindon is a town in the west of the Basildon district of Essex, England.It is north of Laindon railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. South of the railway station and line is Langdon Hills. Laindon and Langdon Hills are part of the Basildon post town.Until its abolition in...
and Pitsea
Pitsea
Pitsea is a small town in the east of the Basildon district of south Essex, England. It comprises five sub-districts: Eversley, Northlands Park Neighbourhood , Chalvedon, Pitsea Mount and Burnt Mills. Vange is located to the west of Pitsea, Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet to the east and Nevendon...
. At the time, 25000 people lived in the whole area, often with unsurfaced roads and limited water supplies.
Dunton Plotlands is situated to the west of Laindon
Laindon
Laindon is a town in the west of the Basildon district of Essex, England.It is north of Laindon railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. South of the railway station and line is Langdon Hills. Laindon and Langdon Hills are part of the Basildon post town.Until its abolition in...
and the Langdon Hills
Langdon Hills
Langdon Hills is a town located in the Basildon district of Essex, England. It is contiguous with the Basildon continuous urban area.It is located south of Laindon railway station on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. It is the location of the Langdon Hills Country Park, which is in the...
, now on the edge of the Basildon district
Basildon (district)
Basildon is a local government district in south Essex in the East of England, centred around the town of Basildon. The district was formed under the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974 from the former area of Basildon Urban District and the part of Thurrock Urban District that was within the...
.
Today, Dunton Plotlands is part of the Essex Wildlife Trust
Essex Wildlife Trust
The Essex Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the county of Essex and part of Greater London , England. It is headquartered at Abbotts Hall Farm, Colchester....
's Langdon nature reserve. The Langdon Visitor Centre and the Haven Plotlands Museum housed in a converted bungalow exhibit the natural and social history of the area.
The Plotlands is still a wooded area where a small number of cottages, and some of the original grid of grass tracks remain. Visitors can look around a preserved bungalow. Many wildlife events are held throughout the year.
External links
- Langdon Visitor Centre - Essex Wildlife Trust
- Dunton Plotlands - www.basildon.com
- Dunton Plotlands (www.roselake.co.uk)