ATTACKS BY RAILWAY COMPANIES. 341 



affecting Bui well Common, near Nottingham, and the 

 Bournemouth Commons. It is believed, however, that 

 these are rare exceptions, and the view is now gener- 

 ally held that it is not wise to reduce the area of open 

 land near towns for such purposes. In the case of 

 the Corporation of Torrington, in Devonshire, a Bill 

 came before Parliament in 1889, raising a kindred 

 question. The Commons near this town are beau- 

 tifully situated, lying on the crest of a lofty ridge 

 rising abruptly from the river Torridge, and with an 

 area of 300 acres. There had been disputes between 

 the Commoners and the owners of the Rolle estate for 

 many years, and the Bill was designed to put an end 

 to them. It was proposed to vest these lands in the 

 Corporation, giving them power to inclose and lay out 

 for building purposes 100 acres, or one-third of them. 

 The Commons Society gave notice of their intention to 

 oppose the scheme, on the ground that it was not to 

 the general welfare that these open spaces should be 

 reduced by so large an amount. Public interest in 

 Torrington was aroused on the subject ; meetings were 

 held to protest against the scheme, and ultimately, 

 negotiations with the Corporation resulted in their 

 abandoning this part of their measure. The Torring- 

 ton Commons, therefore, will remain intact and secured 

 for the public use and enjoyment. 



These proceedings in Parliament, in opposition to 

 Railway Companies and Corporations, had an indirect 

 effect beyond their immediate object. They gradually 

 educated public opinion to a full perception of the great 



