178 BAETFOBT) HEATH. 



which had from time to time been made were only 

 in the nature of temporary bye-laws, made by consent, 

 and did not affect the rights of the Commoners. 



The decree was a very substantial victory for the 

 Messrs. Hall and the Commoners, and was the first of 

 the more recent cases, which restrained the excessive 

 digging of gravel and loam, which was being carried 

 out in many other Commons. Unfortunately, the Judge 

 refused to give the plaintiffs the costs of the suit as 

 against Mr. Byron, and the result was that the Messrs. 

 Hall had to bear the burthen of their own great costs 

 in this expensive litigation amounting to a very large 

 sum. Ultimately, the Corporation of London was 

 induced to purchase the rights of Mr. Byron over the 

 Commons, and as a part of this arrangement, to relieve 

 the Messrs. Hall of some of the burthen of their costs. 

 The Coulsdon Commons are now under the safe custody 

 of the Corporation, and are practically secured to the 

 public. 



DARTFORD HEATH. 



The case of Dartford Heath was very similar to that 

 of the Coulsdon Commons, and need not be described 

 at length. The Heath, in the Manor of Hartford, 

 consists of 334 acres. The Manor was originally in 

 the hands of the Knights Templars, and later in those 

 of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem. 

 On the dissolution of that Order, it vested in the Crown. 

 It was subsequently re-granted, and ultimately came 

 into the possession of Mr. Augustus Morgan. Mr. 



