VILLAGE GREENS. 311 
another illustration that these attempts on the part of 
Lords of Manors, if resisted, will almost certainly fail. 
It was of the greatest importance, as showing the extent 
to which the judges will permit the claim for recreation 
to be maintained. If a small village population can 
maintain rights of recreation and of playing games 
on a Common of 64 acres, it is difficult to understand 
why the people of a large town should not be allowed 
to maintain similar rights over its adjoining Commons. 
There are 79 open spaces within the Metropolitan 
Police district, described in the Ordnance Survey as 
village greens, and ranging in size from 2 roods to 25 
acres. Of these 12 have been included in Regulation 
schemes of adjoining Commons under the Act of 1866. 
Many of the others, under the decisions referred to, 
appear to be endangered by the growth of London, 
and by the fact that it can no longer be proved that 
the customs to play games on them are restricted to 
the inhabitants of their districts. It is clear therefore 
that some remedy should be provided for the better 
security of these playgrounds. 
