EPPING FOREST. 131 



It was not easy to find snch a Commoner. The 

 principal landowners in the district who were Com- 

 moners, and not Lords of Manors, were either in- 

 different to the inclosnre of the Forest, or had already 

 been bought off by allotments from it, or were afraid 

 to incur the great hostility of their class, who were 

 generally ranged on the side of the Lords of 

 Manors. The case differed greatly from those of other 

 suburban Commons, where the residents in villas 

 around them were almost invariably opposed in interest 

 and sympathy to inclosures, antl could be relied 

 upon to resist them. In Epping Forest the prize 

 was great ; the persons really interested against 

 inclosure were few. It was not found possible there- 

 fore to enlist the larger Commoners in any sufficient 

 number to fight the battle with the confederated Lords 

 of Manors. 



Fortunately, however, inquiry showed that among 

 the owners of land within the precincts of the old 

 Forest, having common rights, was the Corporation of 

 London. They were possessors of an estate of 200 

 acres at Little Ilford, in the Manor of Wanstead. They 

 had bought this property for the purpose of a cemetery ; 

 a portion of it had been devoted to this object, 

 and the residue was let as a farm. Common rights 

 were undoubtedly attached to this estate, in respect 

 at least of that part of the Forest within the Manor in 

 which it was situate. It was decided, therefore, to 

 make every effort to induce the Corporation to under- 

 take the great task of impeaching the inclosures of the 

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