Small Holdings Act 1892 (c. 31)

(1) If the council of any county are of opinion that there is such a demand for small holdings in their county as justifies them in putting into operation this Part of this Act, the council may, subject to the provisions of this Act, acquire any suitable land for the purpose of providing small holdings for persons who desire to buy and will themselves cultivate the holdings. (2) The expression “ small holding ” for the purposes of this Act shall mean land acquired by a council under the powers and for the purposes of this Act, and which exceeds one acre and either does not exceed fifty acres, or, if exceeding fifty acres, is of an annual value for the purposes of the income tax not exceeding fifty pounds.

Where land through its proximity to a town or suitability for building purposes, or for any other special reason has a prospective value which in the opinion of the county council is too high to make its purchase for agricultural purposes desirable, the council may hire the land on lease or otherwise for the purpose of letting it in small holdings in accordance with the provisions of this Act.