Hull History Centre: Enclosure Acts L CEA Enclosure Acts 1761-20th Cent Historical Background: The East Riding of Yorkshire in 1725 was, on the whole, a vast open country. Some of the Riding had already been enclosed under private agreements but a great deal of farming still took place within the open field system. There were several types of land within the open field system; the open arable fields, the meadowland or ings and the common land or carr which was the least productive. Villages had several arable fields varying from two to six in number. They were vast fields subdivided into furlongs. Each farmer would be allocated several furlongs in different parts so that everyone received a share of the differing types of soil. Farming had to be done as a community and each village or township had a committee known as the bye law men who met and allocated the furlongs. They also decided on the timing of the crop, i.e. when sowing could commence and when animals were allowed into the fields to graze. There were also community rules for the meadowlands and the common. Again the crop would be chosen for the meadowland and the timing announced. Many cottagers who did not own property were allowed to graze animals on the common by the right of paying rent for their home. The carrs supplied many villagers with fuel in the form of peat or wood and in the wetter areas fish and wildfowl were also to be found. The first step was often an informal meeting to assess support. Every common-right owner had to be consulted as the act must have the support of four fifths of the landowners. A meeting would be held and an attorney appointed to deal with the paperwork. Once the act had completed its passage the commissioners began work and until the award was signed their rulings were binding. The attorney and his clerk attended all their meetings and recorded all the decisions. The clerk also looked after the financial side of the proceedings. Before they began work the commissioners would swear an oath to act fairly and impartially. Many of the commissioners were Quakers and they would make an affirmation instead. Before enclosing land the commissioners needed to receive the claims of the land proprietors. Most enclosure acts used the opportunity to commute the tithes. These were originally the giving one tenth of produce as a method of supporting the church. After the reformation the tithes had been sold and many tithe holders were now laity, although the local rector was still a tithe holder in many places. The tithe holder would be entitled to his one tenth as an amount of money which would then be converted into land. Once all the calculations had been done the land would be allotted at a meeting which usually took several days. The procedure was to allocate land to the tithe holder first, followed by the lord of the manor then all other claims. After this meeting several copies of the allotments would be made and the surveyors would go and supervise the staking out of the new allotments. The commissioners would then announce when the holders could commence farming their new plots. Tithes would cease at this time. The commissioners then instructed the attorney to draw up the award. Three copies were usually made on parchment. These would be signed and enrolled at the registry of deeds in Beverley as a legal document. The proprietors were then expected to pay the money they owed for the award. Custodial history: These items were part of the Local Studies Collection but were not individually catalogued. They were all held at L.333.2. Some items came from the collection of A.B. Wilson-Barkworth and were purchased by the library service in 1929. (Public Libraries © Hull History Centre Page 1 of 23 Hull History Centre: Enclosure Acts Committee 13 May 1929) Others came from the Hedley Mackay Bequest given to Hull Public Libraries in 1927 (Public Libraries Committee 13 June 1927) Extent: 3 linear meters Related material: See individual items Access conditions: Access will be granted to any accredited reader L CEA/1 An act for dividing and enclosing the several open fields, 1769 lands, meadows, pastures, moors, commons and other open grounds within the township of Atwick otherwise Attenwick in Holderness in the County of York Part of the Wilson Barkworth Collection 1929 1 item L CEA/2 An act for enclosing lands in the township of Beilby in the 1814 parish of Hayton in the East Riding of the County of York Bound volume which contains notes signed by the commissioners and giving details of land allocation as well as the enclosure act 1 item L CEA/3 An act for dividing and enclosing several open and common 1765 fields, lands and grounds in the township of Benton, otherwise Bempton, in the East Riding of the County of York 1 item L CEA/4 An act for dividing and enclosing several lands and grounds 1767 in the parish of South-Burton, otherwise Bishop-Burton in the East Riding of the County of York 1 item L CEA/5 Enclosure records for Blacktoft, Gilberdyke/Gilberdike and 1830 Flaxfleet 2 items L CEA/5/1 An act enclosing lands in the townships of Blacktoft, 1830 Gilberdyke/Gilberdike and Faxfleet in the parish or parochial chapelry of Blacktoft and in the parishes of Eastrington and South Cave in the East Riding of the County of York Bound volume which contains notes signed by the commissioners and giving details of land allocation as well as the enclosure act. Also copies of the proclamation signed by the commissioners clerk 1 item © Hull History Centre Page 2 of 23 Hull History Centre: Enclosure Acts L CEA/5/2 An act enclosing lands in the townships of Blacktoft, 1830 Gilberdyke/Gilberdike and Faxfleet in the parish or parochial chapelry of Blacktoft and in the parishes of Eastrington and South Cave in the East Riding of the County of York 1 item L CEA/6 An act for enclosing lands in the parish of Brandesburton in 1844 the County of York 1 item L CEA/7 Enclosure records for Brantingham 1765 2 items L CEA/7/1 An act for dividing and enclosing certain common open fields, 1765 lands and grounds in Brantingham and Thorpe Brantingham in the parish of Brantingham in the East Riding of the County of York. Part of the Wilson Barkworth Collection 1929 1 item L CEA/7/2 An act for dividing and enclosing certain common open fields, 1765 lands and grounds in Brantingham and Thorpe Brantingham in the parish of Brantingham in the East Riding of the County of York. 1 item L CEA/8 Draft of [township of Foston] Brigham Award 1767 This item is fragile and there may be some restrictions to access. Please enquire at the Hull History Centre 1 item L CEA/9 Enclosure records for Burstwick and Skeckling 1773 2 items L CEA/9/1 An act for dividing and enclosing the open arable fields, 1773 meadow and pasture grounds within the town and territories of Burstwick and Skeckling in the parish of Skeckling cum Burstwick in Holderness in the East Riding of the County of York 1 item L CEA/9/2 An act for dividing and enclosing the open arable fields, 1773 meadow and pasture grounds within the town and territories of Burstwick and Skeckling in the parish of Skeckling cum Burstwick in Holderness in the East Riding of the County of York 1 item L CEA/10 Enclosure records for Burton Pidsea 3 items © Hull History Centre Page 3 of 23 Hull History Centre: Enclosure Acts L CEA/10/1 An act for confirming and establishing articles of agreement 1761 for dividing and enclosing certain open and common fields in Burton Pidsea in Holderness in the County of York 1 item L CEA/10/2 Schedule of the ancient enclosure in Burton Pidsea c.1762 Handwritten list of proprietors with location and acerage of land. 1 item L CEA/10/3 Schedule of all the lands in Burton Pidsea with their 1762 proprietors at the time of enclosure 4 March 1762 1 item L CEA/11 Enclosure records relating to North Burton otherwise Cherry 1823 Burton 2 items L CEA/11/1 An act enclosing lands in the parish of North Burton, 1823 otherwise Cherry Burton, in the East Riding of Yorkshire 1 item L CEA/11/2 An act enclosing lands in the parish of North Burton, 1823 otherwise Cherry Burton, in the East Riding of Yorkshire 1 item L CEA/11a An act enclosing lands in the township of Cliffe-cum-Lund, in 1843 the parish of Hemingbrough, in the East Riding of the County of York. 1 item L CEA/12 Enclosure records relating to Cottingham 1766-1791 7 items L CEA/12/1 An act for dividing enclosing and draining certain lands, 1766 grounds and common pastures in the Parish of Cottingham in the East Riding of the County of York. 1 item L CEA/12/2 An act for dividing enclosing and draining certain lands, 1766 grounds and common pastures in the Parish of Cottingham in the East Riding of the County of York. Has additional notes by Dr Wilson-Barkworth purtaining to the Cottingham Drain Part of the Wilson-Barkworth Collection 1929 1 item © Hull History Centre Page 4 of 23 Hull History Centre: Enclosure Acts L CEA/12/3 Copy of the award enclosing the meadow grounds and 1771 common pastures in the parish of Cottingham in the East Riding of the County of York.