358 STATUTE OF MEUTON. 



be taken out of the sole management and control of 

 the Lord of the Manor, and, in spite of his opposition, 

 placed under the management of a Board of Conserva- 

 tors elected by the ratepayers of the district. 



The two measures taken together amount practically 

 to this that Commons are no longer to be regarded 

 as the private property of the Lords of Manors (subject 

 only to the rights of a limited body of Commoners), 

 entirely under their control and management, and 

 liable to inclosure in respect of so much of them as 

 may not be wanted to satisfy existing rights ; but 

 that, on the contrary, the public interest is to prevail 

 over that of the Lords of Manors ; that, if the lords 

 neglect or are unable to protect them from nuisances and 

 disorder, or to maintain them in a proper condition, the 

 Commons may be taken out of their hands, and placed 

 under the control and management of local authorities, 

 with power to expend the ratepayers' money upon 

 their maintenance ; that, subject to this, the lords' 

 rights such as those of sporting, of gravel digging, 

 or of timber will be preserved ; but that the right of 

 inclosing under the Statute of Merton will practically 

 be reduced to nil by the requirement that such inclosures 

 shall not be permitted unless it be proved, to the satis- 

 faction of the Board of Agriculture, that the public is 

 interested in their being carried out. 



It has taken nearly thirty years of sustained efforts 

 to effect this revolution in the position of Lords of 

 Manors, and to obtain this recognition of public interests 

 in common lands. The result has only been reached 



