Following on from last week's email about unusual social history experiments and the token issues resulting, herewith one from a communalself-help group where the denomination of the coin is not monetary but a unit of labour; indeed, the wording on the reverse specifically states thatthe piece has no cash value.

The Fountains Abbey Settlers experiment at Swarland, Northumberland, in the 1930s was an attempt to productively resettle a group of unemployedTyneside craftsmen in a new, specially-created rural community some 25 miles to the north. There are a number of descriptions of it online, of whichthe quote below is probably one of the best. Others may be found by Googling the name of the innovator, Commander Clare Vyner.

77homes were reputedly built, and an example of unaltered one is illustrated, with a bit of background, in the sales advert referenced below. It islikely that the would-be occupants pooled their skills to assist with the building and repairing of each others' accommodation, and maybe othermanual tasks such as gardening as well, with these tokens being the medium of exchange through which they did so.

I have never seen another specimen, and so have no idea whether there are other denominations or dates. I am inclined to suspect not.

To read the complete articles, see:
Swarland in Northumberland goes online with newwebsite (http://alnmouthvillage.co.uk/swarland-in-northumberland-goes-online-with-new-website)
Nelson Drive, Swarland, Northumberland(www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=7428&crit=plan)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MORE ON ORPHANAGE TOKENS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n08a21.html)
TOKENS FROM HOMES FOR INEBRIATES (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n08a22.html)