Explore the rich history of St Anns Allotments

a montage of historic artefacts from the STAA heritage archive

St Ann’s Allotments has a rich and varied history spanning 700 years and the STAA heritage archive is a detailed repository of this heritage. Our digital vault contains newspaper articles, photos, maps, census records, and more.  

This searchable archive features hundreds of newspaper reports from the 1800s where you can read about the ST Anns Rose Show, the rifle range, scrumping, a murder, and even about a stolen privy. There’s lots of audio history too and you can hear the voices and stories of tenants past and present. There are recollections of the campaign to save St Anns Allotments in the 1980s and also several clips from people who migrated to St Ann’s from Iraq and the West Indies describing how they made it their home.

Discover things like:

  • The ‘healing’ properties of our freshwater stream
  • How gardeners held rose shows at Easter
  • What Mr. Peach found at the bottom of his garden
  • How to make Nottingham Pudding

The STAA Heritage archive is an invaluable and unique resource that is open to all and will be of interest to local historians, students and anyone interested in the heritage of this fascinating location.

Access to the database is by application only and after clicking the button below you’ll be taken to the short application form. Please note that it may take up to 14 working days to process your access request.

The STAA heritage database has been made possible thanks to funding from Historic England.