Enclosure

{{Short description|In England, appropriation of common land}}

{{Short description|In England, appropriation of rare land}}

{{distinguish|Exclosure}}

{{distinguish|Exclosure}}

{{other uses}}

{{other uses}}

{{use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{use dmy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{Feudal status}}

{{Feudal status}}

”’Enclosure”’ or ”’Inclosure”'{{efn|[[wiktionary:inclosure|Inclosure]] is an archaic spelling. Enclosure is the more usual spelling, but both forms are used in this article.}} is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of “waste{{efn|name=waste|Land of a poor quality that was only useful for grazing animals or collecting fuel. Holdings described “not in use” or “waste” paid no tax.{{sfn|Friar|2004|pages=144-145}}{{sfn|Amt|1991|pages=240–248}}}}” or “[[common land]]{{efn|name=common|Although ‘owned’ by the manorial lord, commoners had legal rights over the land and the manorial lord could not enclose it.{{sfn|Friar|2004|pages=144-145}}}}” enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their ancient rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land could be either through a “formal” or “informal” process.{{sfn|Kain|Chapman|Oliver|2004|pp=9-10}} The process could normally be accomplished in three ways. First there was the creation of “closes{{efn|name=closes|Small fields or paddocks usually created by the partitioning of larger ancient open field.{{sfn|Friar|2004|p=90}}}}”, taken out of larger common fields by their owners.{{efn|By 1750 this had led to the loss of up to half the common fields of many English villages.{{sfn|Cahill|2002|page=37}}}} Secondly, there was enclosure by proprietors, owners who acted together, usually small farmers or squires, leading to the enclosure of whole parishes. Finally there were [[Inclosure Acts|enclosures by Acts of Parliament]].{{sfn|Cahill|2002|page=37}}

”’Enclosure”’ or ”’Inclosure”'{{efn|[[wiktionary:inclosure|Inclosure]] is an archaic spelling. Enclosure is the more usual spelling, but both forms are used in this article.}} is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of “waste{{efn|name=waste|Land of a poor quality that was only useful for grazing sheep or collecting coal. Holdings described “not in use” or “waste” paid taxes

{{sfn|Friar|2004|pages=144-145}}{{sfn|Amt|1991|pages=240–248}}}}” or “[[common land]]{{efn|name=common|Although ‘owned’ by the manorial lord, commoners had legal rights over the land and the manorial lord could not enclose it.{{sfn|Friar|2004|pages=144-145}}}}” enclosing it and by doing so depriving commoners of their ancient rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land could be either through a “formal” or “informal” process.{{sfn|Kain|Chapman|Oliver|2004|pp=9-10}} The process could normally be accomplished in three ways. First there was the creation of “closes{{efn|name=closes|Small fields or paddocks usually created by the partitioning of larger ancient open field.{{sfn|Friar|2004|p=90}}}}”, taken out of larger common fields by their owners.{{efn|By 1750 this had led to the loss of up to half the common fields of many English villages.{{sfn|Cahill|2002|page=37}}}} Secondly, there was enclosure by proprietors, owners who acted together, usually small farmers or squires, leading to the enclosure of whole parishes. Finally there were [[Inclosure Acts|enclosures by Acts of Parliament]].{{sfn|Cahill|2002|page=37}}

The primary reason for enclosure was to improve the efficiency of the agriculture.{{sfn|McCloskey|1972|page=15-35}} However, there were other motives too, one example being that the value of the land enclosed would be substantially increased.{{sfn|Mingay|2014|page=33}}

The primary reason for enclosure was to improve the efficiency of the agriculture.{{sfn|McCloskey|1972|page=15-35}} However, there were other motives too, one example being that the value of the land enclosed would be substantially increased.{{sfn|Mingay|2014|page=33}}