196 BANSTEAD COMMONS. 



such a predominant interest in and power over it, that 

 he could inclose the greater part of it, under the Statute 

 of Merton ; and threats were held out that the part 

 thus inclosed would be selected so as to be injurious to 

 Lord Egmont's property. Under this threat, Lord 

 Egmont consented to share in the appropriation of the 

 Commons, and to take in compensation for his rights 

 the whole of Burgh Heath. In the same manner 

 another large landowner in the district was induced to 

 consent to the inclosure, by the promise of the allotment 

 to him of Park Down. 



By the year 1876, Sir John Hartopp had so far 

 progressed in his scheme of purchasing out the Com- 

 moners, that he thought he might safely commence 

 his proceedings for the inclosure of the Commons. He 

 began to show his hand by erecting a row of houses on 

 Banstead Downs, and by inclosing some parts of Ban- 

 stead Heath. In spite, however, of his efforts to ward 

 off opposition, there remained many persons owning 

 property in the district, who strongly objected to his 

 schemes, who greatly valued the stretch of open land, 

 .and who had been induced to reside there on account of 

 the Commons, and under the belief that they were 

 safe from inclosure. Some of these had rights of 

 common, and had rejected overtures of purchase; 

 others had no such rights, but were interested in 

 supporting any movement against inclosure. 



By the advice of the Commons Society, a meeting 

 was held at Sutton in December, 1876, to protest against 

 Sir John Hartopp's inclosures ; and a Committee was 



