DARTFORD HEATH. 179 
Morgan, like many other Lords of Manors between 
1865 and 1869, began to assume ownership over the 
Common, and with a view to that, commenced the 
digging of gravel on an extensive scale, so as to ruin 
and deface its surface. 
The cudgels on behalf of the public were in this 
case taken up by Mr. Charles Minet, the owner 
of a considerable property, called Baldwyns, in the 
same Manor. This estate had formerly belonged to 
Cardinal Wolsey, who gave it to Cardinal College, 
Oxford; but on the attainder of Wolsey, it was seized 
by Henry VIII., who later granted it to Eton College. 
Subsequently it was exchanged for other property, 
and came into the possession of Mr. Minet, who, by the 
advice of the Solicitor of the Commons Society, Mr. 
Hunter, brought a suit against Mr. Augustus Morgan, 
in respect of his common rights, belonging to Baldwyns, 
to restrain the inclosure of the Heath and the exces- 
sive digging of gravel. Mr. Minet unfortunately died 
before the suit came to a hearing, leaving six daughters 
his co-heirs. Ultimately, one of these ladies undertook 
the task of saving the Heath, and was prepared to 
prosecute the suit. Mr. Morgan, however, thought it 
imprudent to contest the case any further. 
On June 9th, 1874, a decree was made by consent, 
under which the Commoners were quieted in the posses- 
sion of rights of common, and the Lord of the Manor 
was restrained from digging, in any one year, more 
than two roods of gravel, and two of peat, or more than 
two acres of turf. He was also restricted in all 
M 2 
