4 
NATURE NOTES 
building of factories within reasonable degrees. Apart from the 
fact that a fine open space, so much needed for the supply of 
pure air to the neighbourhood, is being irretrievably ruined, it 
is difficult to understand what is the use of creating further 
sources of industry, when the founts of labour-demand from 
many of the very many now in existence run only too feebly. 
Comparatively recently a large jute factory, once prosperous, 
had to be shut down, and the shortage of work to be obtained 
at the docks on the Thames not far off is matter of daily com- 
ment in the newspapers. 
Accurate information as to the manorial rights (if any) over 
these marshes is very difficult to arrive at. It appears that the 
Manor of Stebonheath (an early name for Stepney) originally 
extended from Stepney to Tottenham, and that the Manor of 
Hackney was carved out of it. 1 The rights of these two Manors 
—assuming the fact of their existence — over the Hackney 
Marshes and the whole lower valley of the Lea is an unknown 
and doubtful quantity. Sir Robert Hunter, in his article on 
“ Commons,” in the new volumes of the “ Encyclopaedia Britan- 
nica,” vol. xxvii., p. 169, tells us that : “ The Hackney Marshes, 
and other so-called commons of Hackney, are really common 
fields or common meadows, and along the valley of the River 
Lea a constant succession of such meadows is met with. They 
are still owned in parcels marked by metes ; the owners have 
the right to grow a crop of hay between Lady Day and Lammas 
Day ; and from Lammas to March the lands are subject to the 
depasturage of stock.” 
So far as it goes this information is satisfactory ; but it does 
not get rid of the fact that the land, though commonable, is in 
private hands, nor does it negative the supposition that manorial 
rights exist. The existence of the ugly row of factories upon 
which I have already dwelt is sufficient evidence to show that 
interests of ownership or manor have fallen an easy victim to 
the wiles of commerce. 
To sum up: Here is a large open space, the effect of which is 
to supply a volume of fresh air to the two great areas of popula- 
tion between which it lies. That on the west — East London 
proper, with the one exception of Victoria Park, possesses no 
open spaces at all. That on the east, consisting of West Ham, 
Stratford and Leyton, is capable of limitless extension still further 
east. Much is made of the benefits of Epping Forest so far as 
Greater East London is concerned ; but those who know this 
district thoroughly are only too well aware that the land in these 
parts that can be built upon is greatly in excess of that which 
cannot. Besides, much of the Forest consists of true woodland, 
which, though beautiful to look upon, has not the hygienic 
value of a space on which timber is sparse. 
1 For this fact I am indebted to Mr. Moon, Librarian to the Leyton District 
Urban Council, who has kindly taken trouble for me in the matter. 
