204 .BANSTEAD COMMONS. 
purpose the rights pertaining to Lord Egmont’s land, 
consisting of 2,000 acres, and to Sir Charles Russell’s 
property, were of great importance, for if it could be 
shown that the whole of this land was entitled to 
common rights in addition to other lands, whose 
rights were no longer disputed, there could be little 
question as to the insufficiency of the Commons, as 
treated by the lord, to maintain the requisite number 
of cattle. The rolls of the manor and the evidence 
of living persons showed that, from time immemorial, 
rights had been claimed and exercised in respect of 
nearly every farm in the parish, and particularly by 
the occupiers of Lord Egmont’s and Sir Charles 
Russell’s properties. On the other hand, the defendants 
relied on an old survey of 1680, and on Mr. Wetherell’s 
award of the money paid by the Railway Company in 
compensations to the Commoners, which limited greatly 
the extent of land in the district entitled to rights. 
Every effort also was made to narrow the rights of 
common, and to prove that sufficient pasture re- 
mained on the wastes for all the sheep that could 
be turned out. The issue involved most lengthy and 
costly investigations into the conditions and rights of 
every farm in the manor. 
At length, in July, 1886, nine years after the 
commencement of the suit, the case was tried before 
Mr. Justice Stirling. The hearing lasted for several 
days. The result was not altogether satisfactory to the 
Commoners. Sir John Hartopp, who was not repre- 
sented by counsel, was restrained from inclosing or 
