HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 363 



Knutton-heath, on which the annual Horse Races are held, received 

 the Royal Assent in June 1816 ; and as the measure is yet in its in- 

 fancy, we deem it right to give the leading features of the Act a 

 place in this History. 



All the rights of common are to cease at such time after the 

 25th December, 1816, as the Commissioner shall direct. 



205 acres of land in the Town-fields are to be set out in com- 

 pensation for rights of common, and to be allotted to Trustees for 

 the burgesses. 



These 205 acres are to be parcelled out in not more than five 

 allotments, to consist of not less than 30 acres in any one field, lying 

 i one entire parcel, except in the Clayton field, where there may 

 be two allotments not exceeding together 60 acres. 



Five acres of the Brampton and Stubbs are to be laid out in Pub- 

 lic Walks for the accommodation of the inhabitants. 



The residue of the Town Fields is to be allotted amongst the 

 Land-Owners, due regard being had to the present local situations 

 and conveniences of their respective lands. This residue consists 

 of upwards of 400 acres of land, a considerable part of which will be 

 immediately convertible to building and other valuable purposes. 



All burgesses possessing a qualification of j40. per annum in 

 freehold or copyhold estates within this county, or being heirs ap- 

 parent of persons having o100. per annum of like property, are 

 capable of acting as Trustees for the burgesses' allotments. 



The Trustees are to let off such portions of the burgesses' allot- 

 ments as shall be necesssary to defray the expenses of keeping up 

 the fences, paying taxes, tithe-rents, &c. of their allotments, and 

 supporting the public walks ; and they are to permit the rest of 

 these allotments to be enjoyed by the burgesses as stinted pas- 

 tures ; subject to regulations for limiting the number, and deter- 

 mining the sorts of stock, and the periods of using such pastures. 

 The Trustees have the power of enforcing the observance of their 

 regulations, by penalties not exceeding 5. for any one offence. 



All Tithes are to remain payable as heretofore, except from the 

 town fields lying in the parish of Newcastle, where a commutation 

 is to take place, on the principle of giving to the Rector annual rent 

 charges payable out of the several allotments. 



Care has been taken in the Act to preserve a continuance of the 

 annual amusement of the Races, by allotting the Race Course on 

 Knutton-Heath, with its appendages, to the Corporation of New- 



