The Plotlanders

The Plotlanders were a radical DIY community who acquired plots of land through auction after the agricultural depression in the late 19th century. Mainly consisting of working class people, they acquired plots of lands from £5 a plot. The Plotlanders held ‘back to the land’ ambitions and built weekend retreats and smallholdings through alternative processes and local salvaged materials. However, in 1949 Basildon was designated as a New Town, which led to the compulsory purchase and demolition of the Plotlands.

In this episode, we dive into the phenomena of the Plotlanders with artist Shaun C Badham and explore them in context with current issues of land ownership, the self-build movement, and artist projects that re-address our relationship with land, agriculture and each other. As we’re waking up to a new landscape post COVID-19, some people are beginning to reflect if they can continue do their jobs remotely, there-fore the requirement to live in or as close to a city is questioned. More seriously the pandemic has spotlighted the inequities of access to green and outdoor space in lower income neighbourhoods and its impact on the health of its communities.