This is really a local Enclosure Act. The people of the parishes of Merden, Bodenham, Wellington, Sutton St. Michael, Sutton St. Nicholas, Murton-upon-Lug, and Pipe in Hereford, had all their lands, whether meadow, pasture or arable, open and intermixed, and commonable “after Sickle and Sithe.” They themselves were accustomed to house their sheep and cattle throughout the year, and the people of neighbouring villages took advantage of this custom to turn in cattle after harvest. The enclosure of one third of the land in each parish is authorised by the Act.
ACTS FOR IMPROVING THE CULTIVATION OF COMMON FIELDS.
13 George III. (1773), c. 81.
This Act has been considered [in the text].
41 George III. (1801), c. 20.
This was a temporary Act to encourage the cultivation of potatoes in common arable fields. The famine prices of 1800–1 caused a good deal of curious special legislation. Any occupier of land in common fields is authorised to plant potatoes, and to guard them from cattle grazing in the fields, on giving compensation for the loss of the common right to the other occupiers.
ACTS FOR FACILITATING ENCLOSURE.
41 George III. (1801), c. 109.
This is the General Enclosure Act promoted by the Board of Agriculture of 1793–1819. It is entitled “An Act for consolidating in one Act certain provisions usually inserted in Acts of inclosure, and for facilitating the mode of proving the several facts usually required in the passing of such Acts.”