Enclosure or inclosure[a] is a term, used in English landownership, that refers to the appropriation of "waste"[b] or "common land"[c], enclosing it, and by doing so depriving commoners of their rights of access and privilege. Agreements to enclose land could be either through a formal or informal process.[4] The process could normally be accomplished in three ways. First there was the creation of "closes",[d] taken out of larger common fields by their owners.[e] 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 enclosures by acts of Parliament.[6]
The primary reason for enclosure was to improve the efficiency of agriculture.[7] However, there were other motives too, one example being that the value of the land enclosed would be substantially increased.[8] There were social consequences to the policy, with many protests at the removal of rights from the common people. Enclosure riots are seen by historians as 'the pre-eminent form' of social protest from the 1530s to 1640s.[7][9]
- ^ Staff 2024.
- ^ a b Friar 2004, pp. 144–145.
- ^ Amt 1991, pp. 240–248.
- ^ Kain, Chapman & Oliver 2004, pp. 9–10.
- ^ Friar 2004, p. 90.
- ^ a b Cahill 2002, p. 37.
- ^ a b McCloskey 1972, pp. 15–35.
- ^ Mingay 2014, p. 33.
- ^ Liddy 2015, pp. 41–77.
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