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Cooperative Dairy Farm at Westminster
In 1884 the Sheerness Economical Society advertised for some twenty or thirty acres of pasture land, in order to set up a farm so that they could utilize and work the surplus capital of the Society. Previously in 1883, the members had empowered the Committee to hire a piece of land suitable for keeping cows and pigs, and although they considered several farms, they couldn't decide on any. The Committee eventually came across two plots of land at Westminster, and on January 25th 1885, the Chairman, Mr. W. J. Penney, signed the agreement to purchase forty-one acres of pastureland. There was also forty-one acres adjoining this land which belonged to the War Office, and it was thought that it would be of benefit to add this to the Cooperative Farm. However, the War Office declined to sell, and eventually the Cooperative agreed to lease four acres of land from the War Office. Dairy buildings were erected, and a Mr. Croft was appointed farm manager, and on 27th January 1886, four cows were purchased from Rochester. Later piggeries were erected, and thus began the business of Farmers. Fields were added to fields, and the business grew. In February 1888 there was an epidemic which plagued the cattle, which was on some newly acquired 11 acres of land. All of them had to be condemned, which ultimately meant that some of the employees were given notice. Eventually the disease disappeared and a herd of new, healthy animals appeared on the farm. In 1897 the lands were flooded which caused a lot of problems which lasted for more than a couple of seasons. In 1900 the pasture land was still suffering from the effects of the flooding, three years before. Eventually the efficiency of the dairy department was steadily increased and official endorsement was given on the cleanliness and purity of the whole arrangement. In addition to the cows, the Society went into sheep rearing and horse breeding as well as keeping pigs and poultry, and the farm flourished. In 1914 the War brought troubles for everyone, and at this juncture, it is not known how long the farm continued, or when it ceased, but it is believed that it was probably with the merger of the Sheerness Economical Society, with the Sheerness Cooperative Society.
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