The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-06 00:00:00

Wimbledon Common.

The following statement of Earl Spencer's scheme
for preserving Wimbledon-common, for removing
and preventing the nuisances to which it is at pre-
sent exposed, for dedicating it to the public, and for
regulating its future management. The bill is to be
read a second time to-day :
" Wimbledon-common belongs partly to the manor of
Wimbledon and partly to the manor of Wandsworth. Put-
ney-heath belongs entirely to the manor of Wimbledon.
Earl Spencer is lord of both these manors, and as lord is
owner of the commons, subject to the common rights (if
any), to the rights of way, and to the rights of the parishes
to dig gravel for repairs of the highways. Whether or no
any common rights exist is a question. Earl Spencer be-
lieves there are none, or next to none. Others allege there
are several. However this may be, the scheme makes ade-
quate provision for ascertaining and compensating them.
Neither the rights of way nor the rights of the parishes
will be taken away or diminished. The diversions of
roads intended were found to be undesirable, and are
abandoned. The gain Lord Spencer and his predeces-
sors have hitherto derived from the common has prin-
cipally arisen from the enclosures (which latterly have
been unfrequent), and from the sale of gravel and turf,
whit has been a source of considerable profit. The
importance to the public, especially the Volunteers, Of
Wimbledon-common, as an open space, needs no demonstra-
tion. The present position of the public is unsatisfactory. In
strict law they are mere trespassers on the common, and
the Volunteers, who have been at a heavy expense in con-
structing ranges and butts, are entirely dependent on the
good will of the lord of the manor. If the manors were to
pass out of Lord Spencer's •hands, serious inconvenience
might follow. Moreover, the lord, either alone, if there are
no common rights, or in conjunction with the commoners,

common rights exist, might, at any time, appropriate the

common and sell it as building land. Even now it is diffi-
cult to preserve it from encroachment. Every session
schemes for railways, hotels, &c., are projected; no one but
the lord gets notice ; to oppose costs himtrouble andmoney,
while his direct interest lies in encouraging schemes by
which large sums of money would find their way into his
pocket. The chief evils.now complained of are the want
of proper drainage, the tramps and gipsies who infest the
common, the deposit of rubbish heaps, and the destruction
of the gorse.

"Lord Spencer's schemoproposes to dedicato the common

to the public, to drain it, to appoint common-keepers, with
cottages to be erected for their occupation, to surround the
common with a post-and-rail fence, in order to prevent
cattle from straying and vehicles from cutting up the turf
(entrances to be left wherever roads at present exist, and
elsewhere), to improve the existing roads, and form any
new roads the neighbourhood may require. In carrying
out the above improvements, regard to bo had to the pre-
servation of the wild appearance of the common. To
compensate the common-rights, if they exist, by pay-
ing to every person who can prove a right an equiva-
lent in money. The rights to be ascertained, and the com-
pensation assessed, under the powers of the Lands Clauses
Consolidation Act. Lord Spencer's right to gravel to be
commuted into a rent-charge ; his right to turf, and, his
other interest in the common, to be given freely to the
public. To pay the expense of the improvements, the cost
of the Act, and the compensation by sale of so much of the
land as may be found necessary, excluding that part of it
which is covered by the fire from the ranges. The manage-
ment to be in the hands of trustees ; one to be the lord of
the manor, the other two to be nominated by the Crown
and the Enclosure Commissioners. The trustees to do all
necessary repairs to preserve the turf, the ornamental
gorse, and to plant trees wherever there is any unsightly
object to conceal. By-laws to be framed by the trustees,
and to be approved by one of the principal Secretaries of
State. The trustees to be empowered to grant the tempo-
rary or exclusive use of the common to any such body as
the National Rifle Association or the Royal Agricultural
Society. Also to let the pasturage of the common; Also
to work or let the gravel-pits. To apply the proceeds in
payment of the lord's rent-charge, and the expenses of
management, and to capitalise any surplus as a fund for

future improvements. Lord Spencer reserves two acres
adjoining the Windmill, which belOngs to him. Wimble-
don-green and Putney-heath (except such parts of the
latter as may be sold to provide a fund for the improve-
ments) will remain entirely unaffected by the Act. The
lord will gain no new power over these, nor will the com-
mon-rights be prejudiced.
"Objections have been urged against the extinction of the
common-rights, the fence, and the power of sale. The ex-
tinction of the common-rights over Wimbledon-common is
essential to the complete dedication to the public. Moreover,
the rights (if they exist at all) are of little value, and those
who claim them would prefer their extinction on terms of
compensation. The 'assents' which have been received to the
bill are in the proportion of ;nearly five to one of the dis-
sents.' Lord Spencer believes the fence will bo an advan-
tage. It will insure better order, will prevent nuisances and
encroachments, will reduce the-expense of management, and
without it the source provided to meet those expenses will
fail. The kind of fence proposed will practically create no
impediment to the free and unrestricted use of the common
by the public. The power of sale provides, as Lord Spencer
believes, the onlypracticable means of meeting the expenses
of the improvements. Lord Spencer, however, is acting
merely in what he believes to be the interest of the public;
and if the house thinks fit to send the bill before an ordi-
nary;p eration of the powers of sale, in
i
committee, he will, on the question of enclosure, be
d
and he will agree to postpone, till
afterue(i next
that by
their
nnopportunity
may be given of obtaining a rate,
should those living in the neighbourhood of the common
agree to be rated. The second reading of the bill was post-
g orderase sio opinion
the o
post-
poned in order to afford the Committee on Open Spaces an
or principle of the bill. Before
that committee oittefecohnisaildoerrctahg the
lordship did not think it necessary to
prove exactly the extent of his rights, inasmuch as those
rights, whatever their extent, were offered freely to the
public, and it has never been suggested that he has not the
rights of every lord of a manor. Earl Spencer intended a
public benefit, lie will be no gainer by the bill ; on the
contrary, it will involve a heavy sacrifice of property on
his part, and he cheerfully leaves it to the house to say
whether the bill shall proceed or not,"

The following " reasons" are given why the bill
should be read a second time :
"1. The bill will secure to the public for ever, and free
from buildings, an open space of 688 acres of very valuable
land in the immediate neighbourhood of London.

"2. This advantage will be secured at no public cost.
"8. The present Earl Spencer is owner in fee of the
manor, and is willing: to dedicate the common to the pub-
lic, whereas a future lord might not be either competent or
• willing to do so.
"4. A future lord might, either in concert with the com-
moners or by buying up their rights, appropriate the com-
mon and exclude the public.

" The bill will involve no loss on the part of any ono
except Earl Spencer."

A PICKPOCKET AT THE OPENING OF THE MAIN
DRAINAGE WORKS.—On;Tuesday, on the occasion of the
opening of these works by his Royal Highness the Prince
of Wales, Professor Owen, who was among the distin-
guished visitors present, had the misfortune to have his
pocket picked of a gold watch, valued at £4O, with which
the thief got clear off.