684 Grounds Allotted under Inclosure Acts, [nov., 



in which the ground was situated, to be held by them in trust as 

 places of exercise and recreation for the inhabitants of the neighbour- 

 hood. The Local Government Act, 1894, transferred to parish councils 

 from the 'churchwardens and overseers the control and management 

 of the recreation grounds, together with all powers, duties, and 

 liabilities in respect thereof. A parish council has the additional power 

 —not possessed by the churchwardens and overseers — of making and 

 enforcing bye-laws for the regulation of the recreation ground, with 

 all such powers as may be exercised by an urban authority under the 

 Public Health Acts in relation to recreation grounds and public walks. 

 In parishes where there is no parish council the recreation grounds 

 are transferred, subject to all trusts and liabilities affecting them, from 

 the churchwardens and overseers to the chairman of the parish meeting 

 and the overseers. 



The total number of recreation grounds set out under the Inclosure 

 Acts from 1845 to I 9 I ° was 35°» an< ^ appears that only 29 are still 

 vested in the churchwardens and overseers, the remainder having been 

 transferred to the charge of the local authorities. The reports indicate 

 that the transfer had in many instances resulted in the improvement 

 of the recreation grounds ; and in the case of 30 the power of making 

 bye-laws for their regulation had been utilised. 



An appendix in the Report gives a summary of all the reports 

 received in 19 10, and the details therein given afford information to 

 those interested as to the present position of the recreation grounds 

 and the extent to which they are now available for public use. In 

 the case of 259 it is stated that they are more or less used for the 

 purpose to which they were dedicated. In 91 cases they were not used 

 fort recreation ; but in 56 cases the herbage was let, and in 19 cases 

 the rent was applied to the hiring of ground more suitable or con- 

 veniently situated for recreation ; while in 14 other cases the rent is 

 accumulating with a view to the purchase of other land. In 35 cases 

 no use whatever appears to be made at present of the ground. 



On no previous occasion has so exhaustive an inquiry been made 

 into the position in regard to these recreation grounds, and in some 

 instances there would seem to be a danger that the indifference of 

 the inhabitants to their rights may, unless greater vigilance is exercised 

 in the future, lead to the desuetude of the grounds, and eventually to 

 their loss to the public. It must be admitted that in many cases under 

 the earlier awards the piece of land allotted as a recreation ground 

 was from its nature and situation unsuitable for the purpose. No 

 doubt in many villages there was no public demand at the time for 

 such an allotment, and it was made, therefore, in a perfunctory manner 

 rather with the view to compliance with the requirements of the law, 

 or of the Inclosure Commissioners, than in the belief that it was of 

 any practical utility. It is 'thus, perhaps, not surprising that it should 

 sometimes have been thought that any rough piece of land in the 

 parish, which was not of much value for any other purpose, would 

 sufficiently meet this requirement. Cases have been brought to the 

 notice of the Board in which it is clear that the existing allotment is 

 not, and cannot be made, suitable for purposes of recreation, and the 

 attention of the trustees was directed to their powers of sale or ex- 

 change and to the obligation which lies upon them in fulfilment of 



