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A.M.A. (Michael 'Mike') Woods, Welford-on-Avon

Description

Set of annotated 6 inch Ordnance Survey maps used by Michael Woods as District Officer for the Stratford District Committee, and subsequently as District Adviser in the National Agricultural Advisory Service. With explanatory notes by A.M.A. Woods. The food production campaign of the 1940s was administered by County Agricultural Committees under the direction of the Ministry of Agriculture. They consisted mainly of working farmers and landowners, and were further divided into county sub-committees dealing with machinery, labour, pest control c., and district committees whose voluntary members were responsible for a group of parish in order to ensure that the required acreages of wheat and potatoes were grown to meet county target. They also had to encourage farms to be self sufficient in feeding their livestock, by growing oats, barley, beans, kale and turnips. Regular visits were carried out to check. In order to effect this efficiently, committee members, together with paid District officers needed a set of maps for their area with field numbers and acreages clearly marked. These were only printed on 25 inch maps, which were too cumbersome to be carried, so all the details were transferred by hand onto six-inch maps, which were themselves cut into quarters.