74 CATSHILL 



nately changed, however, and the introduction 

 of machinery wrought havoc with their pros- 

 pects, and these " Uttle blacksmiths " are now 

 hard put to it to make a Hving. Latterly there 

 has been a slight improvement, but in 1892 

 their trade was at its lowest and distress had 

 become very evident. 



With the passing of the Small Holdings Act 

 in this year (1892) a petition was made to the 

 Worcestershire County Council. This body 

 appointed a committee to investigate the cir- 

 cumstances, and mainly through the initiation 

 of two or three individual members it was 

 decided to put the Land Purchase Clauses of 

 the Act into operation. The Council pro- 

 ceeded to buy Woodrow Farm, on the out- 

 skirts of the village, comprising some 147 acres. 

 This was divided into holdings of three to nine 

 acres in area. Another farm of forty- eight 

 acres shortly came into the market. Lying in 

 the immediate neighbourhood, this was also 

 acquired, making an estate of some 195 acres 

 for development. Applications were received 

 both from within the village itself and from 

 those who had been compelled to leave from 

 lack of employment, but who were anxious to 



