32 THE COMMITTEE ON COMMONS. 



not necessary that any part of it should be sold. After 

 these recommendations, and upon the understanding that 

 the scheme of fencing the Common should be dispensed 

 with, the Wimbledon Bill was read a second time in 

 the House of Commons, but was subsequently not 

 further proceeded with. 



Meanwhile, Mr. Doulton's Committee continued 

 their inquiry into the other Commons round London. 

 Evidence was laid before them as to the condition, 

 physical and legal, of many of the most important of 

 these open spaces, such as Hampstead, Blackheath, 

 Barnes, Wandsworth, Tooting, Epsom, Banstead, 

 Hackney, and Epping Forest. 



In all these and other cases, the evidence showed 

 that the difficulties, which had been described by Lord 

 Spencer with regard to Wimbledon Common, existed in 

 at least an equal degree. The surface of most of the 

 Commons had been greatly deteriorated by excessive 

 and careless digging of gravel-pits, by the collection of 

 nuisances, the deposits of cinder and dust-heaps and 

 manure, and by the firing of gorse or brushwood. 

 Complaints were made that tramps and bad characters 

 frequented the wastes without interference by the 

 police. In some cases the Lords of the Manors 

 admitted and deplored their inability to deal with these 

 abuses. In other cases, it was apparent that there 

 was neither the will nor the means to check them, as it 

 was hoped that the want of order and the unchecked 

 existence of nuisances would act as inducements to the 

 commoners and residents to join in inclosure rather 



