Land Settlement Association

The Land Settlement Association was established in 1934 to provide employment on the land for unemployed industrial workers from depressed areas. Posters and pamphlets were distributed through employment exchanges inviting men to apply. They were vetted for suitability to the rural life and given a medical examination. The men received agricultural training and each family was given 5 acres to cultivate plus livestock to rear. The small holdings were run as a co-operative, but many communities failed when men complained of the long hours, low pay and isolation of rural life. Recruitment to the scheme ceased at the outbreak of World War II. The settlements were dissolved and privatised in 1983.

The collection consists of accounts, publications and advertising, annual reports, press cuttings, maps and films, administrative and commercial records, photographic records, negatives and social and personal records.

More information

• Full descriptions are available on our online database: CR LSA, CR 2LSA, CR 3LSA
• Handlists for each deposit of the collection can be found here: CR LSA, CR 2LSA, CR 3LSA

Associated Collections

Leo Sutton Collection (CR DX2029)

This collection consists of photographs and documents mainly relating to the Land Settlement Association estate at Sidlesham, though there are a few items from Elmesthorpe Estate in Hinckley. There is also a typescript of a speech given to the Young Farmers’ Club in 1960.

A full description is available on our online database.

A handlist for the whole collection can be found here.