This photograph was taken by Alfred Burton of Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, and curiosity makes one wonder why he was in Hampshire taking a photograph of watercress gatherers at that time as there were several local photographers in Andover during the period.

Interestingly, Burton was a gardener before taking up photography (and taxidermy) but his studio was at Roman Street in Hoddesdon for the length of his career until he died in 1922.

A later inscription in ballpoint on the reverse of the image is that this is of watercress beds at Charlton and there is also the name ‘Roblett’ in pencil, written in an earlier script, though it seems too early for him to have commissioned the actual image.

Andover Advertiser: Gathering watercress at Charlton, c1900Gathering watercress at Charlton, c1900 (Image: Burton of Hoddesdon)

The Roblett family were major growers of watercress in this area for many years during the first half of the last century but the Roblett concern was much more advanced than this photograph portrays.

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Here we have a very primitive view of watercress, literally being grown in the local river.

Watercress was known as a food full of vitamins and minerals from Roman times but it was not until the early 19th century that it was commercially grown in Britain.

Even then it was only in Kent and in areas of London besides the Thames that it thrived, with a ready demand from the London markets that were easily served by the new railways close by.

Early growing in Hampshire with its fast-flowing chalk streams and the means to transport the end product by rail, facilitated the growing of watercress by the 1850s with Alresford becoming a major centre locally, hence its ‘Watercress Line’.

Early watercress beds in Andover itself were near the Folly Inn, operated by James and Samuel Portsmouth by 1868, and at the same period in Charlton there was a bed upstream of Charlton bridge, on the farm behind the Royal Oak, cultivated by John Bartholomew.

But scattered around the area there were various small watercress beds being cultivated, possible wherever a river or stream flowed nearby.

In the 20th century, the main watercress beds at Charlton were downstream of Charlton bridge at an area known curiously (but officially) as The Peril, a six-acre site, which today lies behind the War Memorial Hospital on the lower ground over the hill.

This was once an area of water meadows that had been regularly ‘drowned’ from the nearby river to produce early spring grass.

The area was apparently leased to Mrs Portsmouth in 1912, who also ran the Folly watercress beds that had been cultivated by her late husband George.

In all likelihood George was related to the earlier James.

However, after World War I, the beds at The Peril were taken over by William John Roblett who laid out up-to-date beds and ensured a constant supply of water by means of artesian wells drilled deep into the chalk.

His son Horace worked with him, taking over after his father’s death in 1935, while another son Reginald started beds behind Mead Hedges on the western side of Andover.

Watercress was a staple ingredient of school dinners during the shortages of World War II and in spring it was the earliest salad crop to be harvested.

Major Seddon-Brown started a watercress farm in the lands around Cricklade after the war and eventually expanded his operation to Charlton and elsewhere.

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However, there was a slow decline and local suppliers were eventually forced out of business - through a combination of small size, town development and the dangers of polluted, urban water affecting the crop.

Only the largest concerns, like today’s Vitacress Ltd at St Mary Bourne, remained viable in modern times.

If you are interested in local history, why not join Andover History and Archaeology Society? Details can be found at www.andoverlocalhistoryarchaeology.uk