196 BANSTEAD COMMONS. 
such a predominant interest in and power over it, that 
he could inclose the greater part of it, under the Statute 
of Merton; and threats were held out that the part 
thus inclosed would be selected so as to be injurious to 
Lord Egmont’s property. Under this threat, Lord 
Egmont consented to share in the appropriation of the 
Commons, and to take in compensation for his rights 
the whole of Burgh Heath. In the same manner 
another large landowner in the district was induced to 
consent to the inclosure, by the promise of the allotment 
to him of Park Down. 
By the year 1876, Sir John Hartopp had so far 
progressed in his scheme of purchasing out the Com- 
moners, that he thought he might safely commence 
his proceedings for the inclosure of the Commons. He 
began to show his hand by erecting a row of houses on 
Banstead Downs, and by inclosing some parts of Ban- 
stead Heath. In spite, however, of his efforts to ward 
off opposition, there remained many persons owning 
property in the district, who strongly objected to his 
schemes, who greatly valued the stretch of open land, 
and who had been induced to reside there on account of 
the Commons, and under the belief that they were 
safe from inclosure. Some of these had rights of 
common, and had rejected overtures of purchase; 
others had no such rights, but were interested in 
supporting any movement against inclosure. 
By the advice of the Commons Society, a meeting 
was held at Sutton in December, 1876, to protest against 
Sir John Hartopp’s inclosures; and a Committee was 
