REGULATION OF COMMONS. 329 



passed for regulating twenty-three Commons beyond the 

 Metropolitan Police district, with an aggregate area of 

 31,300 acres. Most of these have been cases of moun- 

 tain districts, where the object has been to define and 

 regulate the Commoners' rights. Some of them, how- 

 ever, have been cases of Commons in populous parts, 

 such as Red Hill Common, near Reigate, of 324 acres ; 

 Totternhoe, in Hertfordshire, 234 acres, and Clent 

 Common in Worcestershire. In these and other cases, 

 special provisions have been inserted giving to the 

 inhabitants of the districts the right of walking and 

 playing games over the whole of the Commons. Ash- 

 down Forest, of 6,000 acres, was also placed under a 

 regulating scheme, after the long litigation to which it 

 was subjected. Other Commons have been dealt with 

 for special reasons under private Acts, based on the 

 principle of regulation. Thus the beautiful range of 

 open land in the Malvern Hills, near Malvern, of 

 6,000 acres, has been subjected to regulation under a 

 special Act, and thus secured for public enjoyment. 

 Torrington Common and Bournemouth Common have 

 been similarly treated. 



There can be no doubt that very numerous other 

 Commons would be placed under regulating schemes, 

 if it were not for the very rigid requirements of the Act 

 of 1876, namely the consent of two-thirds in value of the 

 Commoners and of the Lord of the Manor. There can 

 be no possible reason why the same facilities which 

 have been found expedient and necessary in the interest 

 of the public in the case of Commons within fifteen 



