304 VILLAGE GREENS. 
In 1813, a gentleman of large means, named Barrett, 
living near the Green, took a lease of it from the Lord 
of the Manor for sixty-one years, with the option of 
purchase for £200. The lease contained a covenant to 
inclose the Green, and to plant it with shrubs, and not 
to erect any building without the lessor’s assent. Barrett 
did this for the purpose of preventing the place being 
a nuisance to the neighbourhood. In the correspondence 
with his neighbours, he expressly disclaimed having 
taken the lease with a view to profit, and he offered to 
let them join in the enterprise, bearing their share in 
the expense. The Green was then fenced and planted, 
but for some time the inhabitants made use of the 
Green, breaking down the fence. In 1855 a Committee 
was formed of the inhabitants, for the purpose of collect- 
ing subscriptions to erect a new fence round the Green, 
and to restore it from its then disgraceful state. A sub- 
lease was obtained from Barrett’s successor, and a new 
fence was erected. The Green was then drained and laid 
down with turf. This was done with the object of 
preventing nuisances and maintaining the decency and 
appearance of the place; but the public were excluded. 
In 1874, the sub-lease came to an end, and a Mr. 
Honey, who had obtained an assignment of Barrett's 
lease from his representatives, and had exercised the 
option of purchasing the fee from the: Lord of the 
Manor, commenced building operations on the Green, 
and when remonstrated with by the inhabitants of the 
adjoining houses, demanded £8,000, as the price for sur- 
rendering his interest in this acre of land. 
