VTT DECLINE OF SMALL LANDOWNER 145 



1832, there is a different tale to tell. In the 21 Oxford- 

 shire parishes (Table VI) there is. decrease all round : of 

 owners holding over 6 acres, 203 to 191 (i. e. 12), and of 

 those holding under 6 acres, 33 to 31 (i.e. 2); of occupy- 

 ing owners over 6 acres, 76 to 59 (i. e. 17); and of those 

 occupying under 6 acres, 36 to 27 (or 9); and in other 

 295 parishes (Table VIII) a decrease of 177 (1,179 to 

 1,002) in the numbers of owners occupying, although the 

 acreage held by them is increased. 



In the 46 Wiltshire parishes (Table VII) there is a 



notable decrease of owners holding over 6 acres, 574 to 490 ; 



and a small one of owners occupying over 6 acres, 178 to 



[ 169 ; although there is a large increase of owners holding 



under 6 acres : 241 to 290. 



In the Kent parishes (Table X) the returns are very 

 similar. 



In Lancashire (Table XI) a decrease all round. 

 In Hereford (Table XVII), for which we now have 

 returns for 27 parishes, again a decrease both in numbers 

 of owners not occuping and in owners occupying above 

 j 6 acres, although a slight increase in the number of those 

 who hold less than 6 acres. 



During the ensuing thirty years 1832 to 1862 the fall 

 [still continues in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Lancashire, 

 | Herefordshire, Kent, and Norfolk, so far as yeomen are 

 [concerned, although there is an increase in the numbers of 

 Jowners, but this is probably to be accounted for by the 

 [growth of populous villages. It will also be observed that 

 of my 5 large proprietors, 3 made considerable acquisi- 

 tions during this period. 1 



Between 1862 and 1892, we note in Oxfordshire an 



1? Tables: Oxon., VI, VIII, IX; Wilts., VII; Hereford, XVII; 



! Kent, X ; Norfolk, XIII. Cf. p. 150 ff. 

 ' Table V, p. 137. 



JOHNSON K 



