PLUMSTEAD COMMONS. 83 
for many years by the freehold tenants of a Manor, and 
also by the inhabitants, the Court will presume that 
the inhabitants claimed through the freehold tenants. 
4, A freehold tenant of a Manor does not by 
ceasing to pay quit rents, and by neglecting to claim 
admission, lose his rights against the lord. 
The result of the suit was an unqualified vindication 
of the views of those who had maintained that the 
rights of Commoners, though dormant and unused, 
would avail to prevent inclosures. One of the most 
determined of all the efforts to inclose under the 
Statute of Merton was completely defeated. It is 
worthy of note that one of the Fellows of Queen’s College 
—the late Mr. Maidlow—won the first prize offered 
by Sir Henry Peek for an Essay on the Preservation of 
Commons, in which he maintained that the Statute 
was practically obsolete, and ought to be repealed. It 
would have been well for the interests of the College if 
its Fellows had followed his advice in preference to that 
of their lawyers. 
Later, a scheme for the Regulation of Bostall Heath 
was applied for by the Commoners, but was strongly 
opposed by the College. The Metropolitan Board 
then stepped in, and bought the interest of the College 
for a moderate sum. Later still, in 1891, the London 
County Council, with a contribution from the Local 
Board, made an addition to this Common, by the pur- 
chase of 62 acres of a beautiful wood adjoining it, the 
property of Sir Julian Goldsmid, who completed his 
good work in connection with the Plumstead Commons 
G2 
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