178 DARTFORD HEATH. 
which had from time to time been made were only 
in the nature of temporary bye-laws, made by consent, 
and did not affect the rights of the Commoners. 
The decree was a very substantial victory for the 
Messrs. Hall and the Commoners, and was the first of 
the more recent cases, which restrained the excessive 
digging of gravel and loam, which was being carried 
out in many other Commons. Unfortunately, the Judge 
refused to give the plaintiffs the costs of the suit as 
against Mr. Byron, and the result was that the Messrs. 
Hall had to bear the burthen of their own great costs 
in this expensive litigation—amounting to a very large 
sum. Ultimately, the Corporation of London was 
induced to purchase the rights of Mr. Byron over the 
Commons, and as a part of this arrangement, to relieve 
the Messrs. Hall of some of the burthen of their costs. 
The Coulsdon Commons are now under the safe custody 
of the Corporation, and are practically secured to the 
public. 
DARTFORD HEATH. 
The case of Dartford Heath was very similar to that 
of the Coulsdon Commons, and need not be described 
at length. The Heath, in the Manor of Dartford, 
consists of 334 acres. The Manor was originally in 
the hands of the Knights Templars, and later in those 
of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem. 
On the dissolution of that Order, it vested in the Crown. 
Jt was subsequently re-granted, and ultimately came 
into the possession of Mr. Augustus Morgan. Mr. 
