Chris Morris, A Landworker’s Struggle: an Epping Autobiography 1913-1990

Chris Morris was born to a single mother in 1913. He lived all his life in the South Woodford and Epping area. His father was believed to have been lost when the Lusitania was torpedoed in 1915, and Chris and his family grew up in desperate poverty. Chris was boarded out in his early years and during this period suffered double pneumonia and meningitis. Leaving school at 13, Chris was self-taught throughout his life. He entered local farm work, eventually working at the Copped Hall Estate from December 1944.

He became Chairman of the Epping Branch of the Labour Party, and from there he took increasingly responsible positions within the National Union of Agricultural Workers. As a direct consequence of this involvement, he was dismissed from his job and forcibly evicted from his cottage on the estate in 1960. His plight focused national attention onto the tied cottage system and, as a result of subsequent lobbying of MPs, the Rent (Agriculture) Act eventually became law on 1st January 1977. Under increasing ill health, Chris died on 2nd September 1990 in St Margaret’s hospital, Epping.

The book is a transcript of tapes by Chris Morris covering his early life. The book has strong local interest. Stan Newens has added additional details with an introduction and postscript. The book has been published by Labour Heritage, which exists to promote interest in the Labour Party and the labour movement. It can be obtained from Stan Newens, The Leys, 18 Park Hill, Harlow, Essex CM17 0AE, at £4.50.