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Enclosure Acts

This notice, published on 25th May 1839, is relating to the enclosure of Fretherne and Saul.  This enclosure (‘inclosure’ is the archaic spelling) comes towards the end of the enclosure movement.  The notice amply demonstrates the complex language used in the process, all of which went against the ability of commoners to put forward their views or to get their voices heard.  The powers granted in the Inclosure Act of 1773 were often abused by landowners: the preliminary meetings where enclosure was discussed, intended to be held in public, often took place in the presence of only the local landowners, who regularly chose their own solicitors, surveyors and Commissioners to decide on each case.  In 1786 there were still 250,000 independent landowners, but by 1810 that number was reduced to 32,000.

GA Ref.No: GJ/1839