The destiny of the 13 acres vested in the Churchwardens and Overseers is described thus: they are ‘for the use of the poor of Laleham, as a compensation for their loss of Common, the said 13 acres in lieu of the herbage of the roads the use of which by the poor was thought might be injurious to the young quick by the grazing of their cattle on the roads, and as the Majority of the Proprietors have agreed’ to give up this 13 acres as an equivalent for the Herbage, the Herbage is given to the proprietors instead.
The Churchwardens and Overseers may do one of two things with the 13 acres plot, they may (1) lease it out for 21 years at ‘the best and greatest rent’ to a parishioner: (the plan shows the 13 acres to have been wedged in between Lord Lowther’s fields), or (2) ‘if they should think it more advantageous to the parish to raise a certain sum of money upon it for the Purpose of erecting a Workhouse’ they may let it out for 60 years.
APPENDIX A (8)
Louth, Lincolnshire.—Enclosure Act, 1801
| Area.— | In Petition | for Enclosure, | about | 1770 | Acres. |
| In Act | „ | „ | 1854 | „ | |
| In Award | „ | „ | 1701 | „ |
Nature of Ground.—‘Open Common Fields, Meadows, Pastures, and other Commonable Lands and Waste Grounds.’
Description from Eden, vol. ii. p. 395 (June 1795).—‘Most of the land belonging to this town lies in 2 large common fields, which are fallowed and cropped alternately: in several parts of these common fields there are large tracts of waste land, upon which a great number of poor people summer each a cow, which in winter go at large in these fields. The Poor complain heavily of the farmers, saying, “That they encroach on their property”; and the farmers say, “That the Poor take the opportunity of eating their corn with their cattle.” Tithes are here taken in kind.’
Parliamentary Proceedings.—March 11, 1801.—Petition for enclosure from various persons, owners, or interested in estates in Louth. Leave given. Bill read twice, and committed on June 5. Same day, Petition of various Freeholders and Proprietors of old inclosed land against the bill; setting forth that there are ‘now more than 750 acres of old inclosed Meadows and Pasture Lands very contiguous to the Town; and that the Soil of these Open Fields is best adapted for Wheat and Beans, of which it produces excellent Crops alternately, and is in a very high State of Cultivation; and that there is no Waste Land, as the Commons are a very rich Pasture, which keep a large Quantity of Cattle, the Property of a great many industrious People, who have Common Rights, and are enabled by their Common Rights to maintain their Families, and increase the Population and Prosperity of the Town of Louth’; and asking the House either to reject the Bill ‘or not to suffer that Part thereof to pass into a Law, which would compel the Petitioners to relinquish Part of their Old Inclosed Land against their Consent, but permit them to remain subject to the Tythes they have hitherto paid.’ Petition referred to the Committee. All to have Voices.
Report and Enumeration of Consents.—June 17, 1801.—Mr. Annesley reported from the Committee that the Standing Orders had been complied with; that the allegations were true; and that the parties concerned had consented ‘(except the Proprietors of Messuages, Cottages and Toftsteads, having Right of Common of the Annual Value of £465, 10s. who refused to sign the Bill, and also except the Proprietors of Messuages, Cottages and Toftsteads having Right of Common of the Annual Value of £177, 15s. who were neuter; and that the Whole of the Property interested in the Inclosure is of the Annual Value of £1670, 12s.).’ The Bill passed both Houses. Royal Assent, June 24, 1801.
Main Features of Act.—(Local and Personal, 41 George III. c. 124.)