In all times the fading memories and traditions of the past have contributed to form in men’s minds the ideals of a possible better future state of society which are the inspiration of progress. The memories and traditions of the English village community, together with its visible relics in the form of commons, commonable meadows, and (rarely) common fields, have had their influence on the formation of the ideals of the Labour and Democratic movement of our country from the time of Cobbett onwards. Through historical research the past may become more definitely suggestive. The suggestions borne into my mind for the agricultural policy of the twentieth century may be summed up in the phrase, British agriculture must be democratised. By this I mean that the principle of collective ownership of the soil must be established or re-established; that agricultural co-operation must be revived in new forms suitable to modern conditions; that the ancient right of independent access to the soil for every tiller of it must be restored; that a career of industrial advance in agriculture must be made possible for the competent worker. On one important side of the life of the old English village community I have not touched at all in this book, viz., its social and recreative side. In this respect also the losses of the past will probably be recovered spontaneously if the nation aims in its agricultural policy at the three essentials of wholesome, hopeful, human work, as opposed to dehumanised toil, Freedom, Training and Mutual Aid. GILBERT SLATER. _January 10th, 1907._ CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. ENCLOSURE IN GENERAL 1 II. THE MERCIAN TYPE OF VILLAGE COMMUNITY 8 III. THE WESSEX TYPE OF VILLAGE COMMUNITY 19 IV. EXTENT OF EXISTING COMMON FIELDS 36 V. THE ISLE OF AXHOLME 52 VI. SOME RECENT ENCLOSURES 63 VII. AGRICULTURE IN OPEN FIELD PARISHES A HUNDRED YEARS AGO 73 VIII. NORFOLK AGRICULTURE 78 IX. 13 GEO. III. C. 81 87 X. ENCLOSURE AND DEPOPULATION 91 XI. ENCLOSURE AND THE POOR 117 XII. THREE ACRES AND A COW 129 XIII. STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF ENCLOSURE BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT 140 XIV. ENCLOSURE OF COMMON FIELDS WITHOUT PARLIAMENTARY SANCTION 148 XV. RUN-RIG AND COMMON FIELD 164 XVI. COMMON FIELDS IN NEW ENGLAND 183 XVII. THE PROGRESS OF ENCLOSURE WITHOUT PARLIAMENTARY SANCTION 187 XVIII. THE RESULTS OF ENCLOSURE 261