378 LAND REFORM 



Rural districts in England and Wales, no less than 

 408 have declined in population. In many of them 

 the decrease is very considerable. Many of the rest 

 are about stationary, or show a very slight increase. 



As examples of those which show a decrease may 

 be named : — 



Andover, Aylesbury, Abingdon, Axminster, Barn- 

 staple, Basingstoke, Battle, Berkhampstead, Beverley, 

 Braintree, Blandford, Banbury, Bideford, Bridgnorth, 

 Bicester, Brackley, Chipping Norton, Chard, Crediton, 

 Daventry, Devizes, Hungerford, Holsworthy, Honiton, 

 Huntingdon, Hertford, Hitchin, Dulverton, Dursley, 

 Frome, Hereford, Leominster, Louth, Midhurst, 

 Nuneaton, Newbury, Northleach, Oundle, Okehamp- 

 ton, Pershore, Romsey, Malmesbury, Pewsey, Stur- 

 minster, Wantage, Warminster, Swaffham, Spalding, 

 Southmolton, Stow -on -the -Wold, Shepton Mallet, 

 Sherbourne, Sleaford, Towcester, Yeovil, Tiverton, 

 Torrington, Tewkesbury, Horncastle, Saffron Walden, 

 Wincanton, Woodstock, etc.^ 



These are the places and districts, many of them 

 historical, where, in former times, the robust English 

 race increased and multiplied, where country life was 

 vigorous, where village sports abounded, and the 

 recruiting - sergeant was continually seen. All are 

 now more or less in a state of decay, in some cases 

 with grass growing in the streets. 



Taking the Administrative counties, which are wholly 

 or mainly agricultural, no less than fourteen show an 

 actual decrease in population, while some others are 

 practically at a standstill or show only a small in- 

 crease. But the decline in the number of those 

 engaged in agriculture is seen in every county in 



^ See Table XII in the same Census Paper, pp. 79-99. 



