Oaks Track leading to the Little Woodcote Estate

Image: © Marathon Taken: 30 Apr 2014

Surrey County Council first bought land at Woodcote in 1912, but after the First World War they made substantial purchases in the Little Woodcote area, on either side of Woodmansterne Lane. The main purpose was to provide smallholdings so that ex-servicemen who wanted to farm on a small scale had the chance to do so as tenants of the County Council. They built the semi-detached farm houses with uniform black weatherboarding and white window frames seen all around here. Over the years many of the smallholdings have been given up but a number still remain and some of the plots still grow vegetables. Much of the land purchased by Surrey in this area became the backbone of the Green Belt hereabouts after the Second World War. In keeping with the set up of the times, the roads do not seem to have normal names. This photograph is taken looking up Oak Track which connects Woodmansterne Road (which is just behind here) with Telegraph Track which it crosses at right angles and then continues on to Woodmansterne Lane. One of the distinctive farm houses can be seen on the horizon to the left of the track.

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