Power or Appeal.—To Quarter Sessions only, and not in cases ‘where the Orders, Directions and Determinations of the said Commissioners are directed to be conclusive, binding and final.’
Award.—Date, August 24, 1798. With Clerk of Peace or of County Council, Gloucester.
APPENDIX A (3)
Cheshunt.—Enclosure Act, 1799
Area.—2741 Acres.
Nature of Ground.—Common Fields and common Lammas meadows about 1555 acres; A common called Cheshunt Common about 1186 acres.
Parliamentary Proceedings.—February 23, 1799.—Petition for enclosure from Sir George William Prescott Bt. (Lord of the Manor), the Rev. Joseph Martin (Tithe owner), Oliver Cromwell, William Tatnall and others. Leave given. Bill read twice; committed April 25.
May 7, 1799.—Petition against the bill from various proprietors of Lands and Common Rights setting forth ‘That a very great Proportion of such Open Fields and Commonable Lands are of so bad a Quality, as to be incapable of any Improvement equivalent to the Expenses of the Inclosure; and that the said Commons in their present State, are well fitted for the breeding of Sheep and Support of lean Stock, and that many of the Inhabitants of the said Parish, who, by reason of their Residence and Occupation of small Tenements, have Rights of Common, are enabled, by the lawful Enjoyment of such Common Rights, to support themselves and their Families; but, as almost all the said Commons lie at the extreme Edge of the Parish, and are subject to very numerous and extensive Common Rights, any Allotments of the said Commons to the lesser Commoners must be too small, and too distant from their Habitations, to be of any substantial Use to them, which Inconveniences are now prevented by the Use of general Herdsmen; and that the Inclosure of the said Open Fields and other Commonable Lands would be, in many other Respects highly injurious to the Rights and Interests of the Petitioners.’ Petitioners to be heard before the Committee. All to have voices.
Report and Enumeration of Consents.—May 24.—Mr. Baker reported from the Committee that they had heard Counsel for the Petitioners; that the allegations were true; that the Parties concerned had given their consent to the bill, and also to the changing of one of the Commissioners named therein ‘(except the Proprietors of 314 Acres and 19 Perches of Land, who refused to sign the Bill; and also, the Proprietors of 408 Acres, 3 Roods and 22 Perches who were neuter; and that the whole Property belonging to Persons interested in the Inclosure consists of 6930 Acres, or thereabouts).’
Bill passed both Houses. June 13, Royal Assent.