WANDSWORTH COMMON. 99 
the National Rifle Association to fence off a large part 
of the Common annually for their Volunteer Camp, 
and to erect targets for rifle practice. This was con- 
tinued for some years; but in consequence of the 
objections of the Duke of Cambridge, the owner of 
the adjoining estate at Coombe, owing to the increased 
range of rifles, and to other difficulties which had 
arisen, it was ultimately found necessary to discontinue 
these meetings, and they are now held at Bisley 
Common. Wimbledon Common has been left to the 
enjoyment of the neighbourhood and public at all 
times of the year, subject only to the reservation of 
certain rifle ranges in favour of a few Metropolitan 
Volunteer Corps. Nothing can work better or more 
smoothly, or more for the interest of the public, and of 
the Commoners and inhabitants of Wimbledon, than the 
scheme of management, thus generously conceded by 
Lord Spencer. 
WANDSWORTH COMMON. 
The settlement of the Wimbledon dispute had the 
fortunate effect of making a precedent for a similar 
settlement of a dispute between the Commoners of the 
adjoining Common of Wandsworth and Lord Spencer, 
who was also Lord of the Manor of Battersea and 
Wandsworth. This Manor was, we learn from 
Domesday Book, given by William the Conqueror to 
the Abbot of Westminster, in exchange for the Manor 
of Windsor. It remained in the possession of the Abbey 
till the Dissolution of the Religious Houses by Henry 
VIII. James I. settled it, on the death of his eldest 
H 2 
