PLUMS TE AD COMMONS. 83 



for many years by the freehold tenants of a Manor, and 

 also by the inhabitants, the Court will presume that 

 the inhabitants claimed through the freehold tenants. 



4. A freehold tenant of a Manor does not by 

 ceasing to pay quit rents, and by neglecting to claim 

 admission, lose his rights against the lord. 



The result of the suit was an unqualified vindication 

 of the views of those who had maintained that the 

 rights of Commoners, though dormant and unused, 

 would avail to prevent inclosures. One of the most 

 determined of all the efforts to inclose under the 

 Statute of Merton was completely defeated. It is 

 worthy of note that one of the Fellows of Queen's College 

 the late Mr. Maidlow won the first prize offered 

 by Sir Henry Peek for an Essay on the Preservation of 

 Commons, in which he maintained that the Statute 

 was practically obsolete, and ought to be repealed. It 

 would have been well for the interests of the College if 

 its Fellows had followed his advice in preference to that 

 of their lawyers. 



Later, a scheme for the Regulation of Bostall Heath 

 was applied for by the Commoners, but was strongly 

 opposed by the College. The Metropolitan Board 

 then stepped in, and bought the interest of the College 

 for a moderate sum. Later still, in 1891, the London 

 County Council, with a contribution from the Local 

 Board, made an addition to this Common, by the pur- 

 chase of 0.2 acres of a beautiful wood adjoining it, the 

 property of Sir Julian Goldsmid, who completed his 

 good work in connection with the Plumstead Commons 

 G 2 



