home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997
/
The_Epic_Interactive_Encyclopedia_97.iso
/
e
/
enclosure
/
infotext
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-09-02
|
1KB
|
27 lines
Appropriation of common land as private
property, or the changing of open-field
systems to enclosed fields (often used for
sheep). This process began in Britain in the
14th century and became widespread in the
15th and 16th centuries. It caused poverty,
homelessness, and rural depopulation, and
resulted in revolts 1536, 1569, and 1607.
Numerous government measures to prevent
depopulation were introduced 1489-1640,
including the first Enclosure Act 1603, but
were sabotaged by landowning magistrates at
local level. A new wave of enclosures by acts
of Parliament 1760-1820 reduced the yeoman
class of small landowning farmers to
agricultural labourers, or forced them to
leave the land. The Enclosure Acts applied to
4.5 million acres or a quarter of England.
Some 17 million acres were enclosed without
any parliamentary act. From 1876 the
enclosure of common land in Britain was
limited by statutes. Enclosures occurred
throughout Europe on a large scale during the
19th century, often at the behest of
governments. The last major Enclosure Act was
in 1903.