VILLAGE GREENS. 311 



another illustration that these attempts on the part of 

 Lords of Manors, if resisted, will almost certainly fail. 

 It was of the greatest importance, as showing the extent 

 to which the judges will permit the claim for recreation 

 to be maintained. If a small village population can 

 maintain rights of recreation and of playing games 

 on a Common of 64 acres, it is difficult to understand 

 why the people of a large town should not be allowed 

 to maintain similar rights over its adjoining Commons. 

 There are 79 open spaces within the Metropolitan 

 Police district, described in the Ordnance Survey as 

 village greens, and ranging in size from 2 roods to 25 

 acres. Of these 12 have been included in Eegulation 

 schemes of adjoining Commons under the Act of 1866. 

 Many of the others, under the decisions referred to, 

 appear to be endangered by the growth of London, 

 and by the fact that it can no longer be proved that 

 the customs to play games on them are restricted to 

 the inhabitants of their districts. It is clear therefore 

 that some remedy should be provided for the better 

 security of these playgrounds. 



