These papers are a small collection of Xerox copies of letters relating to the Crichel Down Inquiry. They were deposited into the Library by Ian F. Nicolson on 12th June 1986 who used them in researching 'The mystery of Crichel Down' (OUP), and were originally found in the attic of Dr Donald McI. Johnson, MP. The Crichel Down affair was based on the compulsory purchase of agricultural land at Crichel Down in 1938 for Second World War use. The land owner died in 1940 leaving the estate in trust to his young daughter, Mary Anna Marten (née Sturt). In 1941, Churchill announced that the land was to be returned to the owners after the war – however this never happened and was given to the Ministry of Agriculture instead. In 1949 Mary and her husband began a campaign for the government to keep its promise of returning sale of the land, resulting in the Crichel Down Inquiry. As a result of the inquiry, the land was sold back to the owners in 1954.
See Small Collection description for other sub-collections.