The Inclosure Award

Small farmers and cottagers were not truly represented in the Enclosures Act, and the poorer people of many parishes endured great hardship as a result.

Someone, as usual, made up a rhyme about this, and it was much bandied about at the time.

A sin it is in man or woman
To steal a goose from off the common.
But what then is his excuse
Who steals the common from the goose?

The Inclosure Award for the parish of Oxhill was comparatively late (1798). The Commissioners first met at the house of John Cox at the Sign of the Bell at Halford. Those present were-

Richardson of the County of Bath
John Chamberlain of Cropredy
William Davenport Bromley of Bagington, Esquire
Rev. Austin Bushby, Rector of Oxhill
Rev. Richardi Cautley, Rector of Whatcote
William Horniblow of Shipston (Apothecary)
William Middleton of Oxhill, (Yeoman)
Edmund Baldwin of Tysoe (Yeoman)

The main awards were as follows:.

Evelyn Shirley, Esq.-      Hughes Close, Long Close, The Harrods, Brivetts Grounds, Oxleasow.

William Davenport Bromley, Esq.-     New Meadow Upper Deeds, Middle Deeds, Cole Barn Meadow, Briars Meadow, Pains Ground, Millyard Leas and meadow, Breeches Piece, Long Furlong, Penn Corner, Shoulder of Mutton Piece, Home Close, Upper Marshalls, Crow Brook, The Pringle

William Horniblow, Esq -         Bakehouse Close, Mailings, The Grange, Short Grounds and short meadow,

John Ward, Esq.   Homestead Orchard and Close, Further Close, Lower Orchard.

This site is maintained by villagers of Oxhill for the benefit of the community and those interested in the history, news and activities that make the village such a pleasant place to live.

Send mail to historian@oxhill.org.uk with questions or comments about this web site.

Last modified: January 27, 2003