How big's a "pole"?

[Doggler]

Just looking at getting an allotment in Henley-On-Thames. Apparently they have "ten pole" and "five pole" plots. Can anyone tell me how big these would be?

[Alice]

A pole is the same as a rod, that is 16.5 feet or 5.5 yards.

[Nicos]

Hi Doggler ! A pole is the same as a rod- ie 16.5 feet. A full length allotment is 10 rods long You beat me to it Alice!!!

[Peter]

My understanding was that Rod is generally used as a measurment of area.
10 rod being approx 250 square metres.

This http://www.johnowensmith.co.uk/histdate/measures.htm is interesting.

[Nicos]

well that clears things up Peter!!!!

[Peter]

Assumptions are dangerous.

Just pointing out that assuming all allotment plots are a set length without quoting a width as previous posters have done could be amusing.

Q "What have you grown on your allotment?"
A "A row of carrots."

The site I am on tapers along its length, and is un-equally divided along its length by the main path/track, plots are five rod on the right, narrower side and ten on the left, wider side.
However the 5 rod plots are long, along the site and the 10 rod are long, across the site.

To get an accurate description of a plot you need to take a rod as being so many square yards/metres (30yards, 25 metres square) and as an interchangable title for the measures of pole and perch. I have checked this by measuring several plots on my site and doing the maths.
Once I realised this I managed to reduce my bill for a part plot described by the site agent as five rod to the realistic rate for three rod, which is what it measured out as by area.

[Squirrel]

Phew! I am so glad I just have my own garden to measure and use!

Well done Peter, that must have taken quite some doing to sort out!

[Nicos]

well researched Peter!
I understood allotments were originally supposed to be the same size throughout the country when first introduced? I had presumed 10 rods long, but not so sure about the width.( My last council run plot was narrower than the private one we now have). Anyone know the actual details of this?
It was clearly worth your while renegotiating the area of your plot Peter as the area you were actually getting was considerably less!- too early in the morning for sums!! -big difference!
Cheshire County Council had our old plot area measured and marked out on a plan, so you know what you are paying for-can't remenber clearly but I think it was measured in square feet.
Our present 10 rod plot is more than ample,so I'm not bothered if we have lost a bit of 'our' land to a neighbour as for £17 per year,friendly neighbours and a lovely location (not to mention the fruit and veg and backache! ), I think it's one of the best decisions my OH and I made !

[lyndap]

I can't remember size of my plot now!Measured it and worked out bed sizes etc when first took it on 4 years ago.Do know since the council took over responsibility for the plots 3 years ago the rent has gone up alot!Was £18 year (including deposit for key).Its now £27 going up to £30 next year. They say this is to cover water bill!!!!Has anyone elses rent gone up this much?

[Shortie]

I don't know who much it was before lyndap but our local one is £55 per year for 10 rods.... I'm on the waiting list so maybe it includes something I wasn't aware of yet (other than water supply...)

[Peter]

Initial research was 11 paces by 33 paces.

[Geordie]

Shortie,

I know you live in North London, and maybe its a north south thing but i only pay £25 inclusive of water & membership of National Allotment Soc. I was a bit taken aback by your £55. This also includes a £1 membership fee to join the 'allotment society' where the shops sells all manner of discounted materials, seeds, compost etc.

[Nicos]

How long are your legs Peter???

[Shortie]

I agree Geordie, we do seem a lot higher than other areas. I may phone the council tomorrow and gently question what I get for my rent (i.e. apart from the plot and water supply). On top of that we have a £13 deposit (not sure if this is standard across allotments?) and a £4 charge for a gate key...

Ultimately, like LJ mentioned before it works out to be just over £1 per week which isn't bad said like that, but I am puzzled why it's so much more than everyone else...?

[supagranz]

£17:00 a year....WOW.....Mine in surrey is £40:00 per year and i thought that was cheap.....But we do get a kitchen..toilet..carpark..water butts..and a 12ft high fence (it's to keep the rabbits/slugs/snails etc in i think)