1868 WL 9885 Page 1 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 © 2010 Sweet & Maxwell Rylands v Fletcher Also known as: Fletcher v Rylands House of Lords 17 July 1868 Case Analysis Where Reported (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330; Case Digest Subject: Real property Keywords: Causes of action, Damage, Land drainage, Mines, Neighbouring land, Negligence Abstract: Judges: Lord Cairns, L.C.Cairns, Lord, LC Appellate History affirming (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 reversing (1865-66) L.R. 1 Ex. 265; [1865-66] All E.R. Rep. 1; (1866) 4 Hurl. & C. 263 159 E.R. 737; (1865) 3 Hurl. & C. 774 Related Cases Significant Cases Cited St Helens Smelting Co v Tipping 11 E.R. 1483; (1865) 11 H.L. Cas. 642 HL Allen v Hayward © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 2 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 115 E.R. 749; (1845) 7 Q.B. 960 QB In re Williams v Groucott 122 E.R. 416; (1863) 4 B. & S. 149 KB Smith v Kenrick 137 E.R. 205; (1849) 7 C.B. 515 QB Imperial Gas Light and Coke Co v Broadbent 11 E.R. 239; (1859) 7 H.L. Cas. 600 QB Bamford v Turnley 122 E.R. 25; (1860) 3 B. & S. 62 KB Pickard v Smith 142 E.R. 535; (1861) 10 C.B. N.S. 470 CCP Chadwick v Trower 133 E.R. 1; (1839) 6 Bing. N.C. 1 CCP Sutton v Clarke 128 E.R. 943; (1815) 6 Taunt. 29 CCP Baird v Williamson 143 E.R. 831; (1863) 15 C.B. N.S. 376 CCP George Chasemore v Henry Richards 11 E.R. 140; (1859) 7 H.L. Cas. 349 HL Partridge v Scott 150 E.R. 1124; (1838) 3 M. & W. 220 Ex Ct Surtees v Lister 158 E.R. 367; (1861) 7 Hurl. & N. 1 Ex Ct Tenant v Goldwin © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 3 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 92 E.R. 222; (1704) 2 Ld. Raym. 1089 KB Acton v Blundell 152 E.R. 1223; (1843) 12 M. & W. 324 Ex Ct Peachey v Rowland 138 E.R. 1167; (1853) 13 C.B. 182 CCP Hodgkinson v Ennor 122 E.R. 446; (1863) 4 B. & S. 229 KB Cases Citing This Case considered Cammidge v Young [1997] C.L.Y. 3803 CC (Birmingham) applied Dunne v North Western Gas Board [1964] 2 Q.B. 806; [1964] 2 W.L.R. 164; [1963] 3 All E.R. 916; 62 L.G.R. 197; (1963) 107 S.J. 890 CA applied Cambridge Water Co Ltd v Eastern Counties Leather Plc [1993] Env. L.R. 116; Times, October 23, 1991 QBD considered Mitchell v Mason (1966) 10 W.I.R. 26 CA considered Read v J Lyons & Co Ltd [1947] A.C. 156; [1946] 2 All E.R. 471; (1947) 80 Ll. L. Rep. 1; (1946) 62 T.L.R. 646; [1947] L.J.R. 39; 175 L.T. 413 HL applied Weisler, Weisler and Seaboard Enterprises v District of North Vancouver, Delves, British Columbia Elec- tric Co and Christie (1959) 17 D.L.R. (2d) 319 © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 4 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 distinguished Landeys (Doncaster) v Fletcher (1958) 109 L.J. 204 CC considered Cambridge Water Co Ltd v Eastern Counties Leather Plc [1994] 2 A.C. 264; [1994] 2 W.L.R. 53; [1994] 1 All E.R. 53; [1994] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 261; [1994] Env. L.R. 105; [1993] E.G. 211 (C.S.); (1994) 144 N.L.J. 15; (1994) 138 S.J.L.B. 24; Times, December 10, 1993; Independent, December 10, 1993 HL considered Bedfordshire Police Authority v Constable [2009] EWCA Civ 64; [2009] 2 All E.R. (Comm) 200; [2009] Lloyd's Rep. I.R. 607; Official Transcript CA (Civ Div) applied Cordin v Newport City Council Unreported, January 23, 2008 QBD (TCC) applied H&N Emanuel v Greater London Council (1970) 114 S.J. 653; Times, July 21, 1970 QBD applied Ellison v Ministry of Defence 81 B.L.R. 101; Official Transcript QBD (OR) applied Federic v Perpetual Investments (1968) 2 D.L.R. (3d) 50 HC (Ont) considered Fowler v Lanning [1959] 1 Q.B. 426; [1959] 2 W.L.R. 241; [1959] 1 All E.R. 290; (1959) 103 S.J. 157 QBD considered Balfour v Barty King [1957] 1 Q.B. 496; [1957] 2 W.L.R. 84; [1957] 1 All E.R. 156; [1956] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 646; (1957) 101 S.J. 62 CA © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 5 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 applied Canadian Forest Products v Hudson Lumber Co (1960) 20 D.L.R. (2d) 712 Sup Ct (BC) considered Benning v Wong (1969) 43 A.L.J.R. 467 HC (Aus) considered Pearson v North Western Gas Board [1968] 2 All E.R. 669 Assizes (Manchester) considered J Doltis Ltd v Isaac Braithwaite & Sons (Engineers) Ltd [1957] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 522 QBD referred to Holderness v Goslin [1975] 2 N.Z.L.R. 46 applied Halsey v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1961] 1 W.L.R. 683; [1961] 2 All E.R. 145; (1961) 105 S.J. 209 QBD applied Home Brewery Co v William Davis & Co (Leicester) [1987] Q.B. 339; [1987] 2 W.L.R. 117; [1987] 1 All E.R. 637; (1987) 84 L.S.G. 657; (1987) 131 S.J. 102; Times, August 13, 1986 QBD considered Home Office v Dorset Yacht Co Ltd [1970] A.C. 1004; [1970] 2 W.L.R. 1140; [1970] 2 All E.R. 294; [1970] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 453; (1970) 114 S.J. 375 HL applied E Hobbs (Farms) Ltd v Baxenden (Chemical Co) Ltd [1992] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 54 QBD referred to Mihalchuk v Ratke © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 6 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1966) 57 D.L.R. (2d) 269 referred to Lamberty v Saskatchewan Power Corp (1966) 59 D.L.R. (2d) 246 considered Salsbury v Woodland [1970] 1 Q.B. 324; [1969] 3 W.L.R. 29; [1969] 3 All E.R. 863; (1969) 113 S.J. 327 CA (Civ Div) applied Esso Petroleum Co Ltd v Southport Corp [1953] 3 W.L.R. 773; [1953] 2 All E.R. 1204; [1953] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 414; (1954) 118 J.P. 1; 52 L.G.R. 22; (1953) 97 S.J. 764 Assizes (Liverpool) applied Shell-Mex & BP v Belfast Corp [1952] N.I. 72 CA considered Mandraj and Mandraj v Texaco Trinidad Inc (1969) 15 W.I.R. 251 CA (Trin) applied Seaway Hotels v Canada Cragg and Consumers Gas Co (1959) 17 D.L.R. (2d) 292 considered A Prosser & Son Ltd v Levy [1955] 1 W.L.R. 1224; [1955] 3 All E.R. 577; (1955) 99 S.J. 815 CA applied Aldridge and O'Brien v Van Patter [1952] 4 D.L.R. 93 HC (Ont) applied Hiller v Air Ministry Times, December 8, 1962 distinguished Perkins v Glyn © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 7 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 [1976] C.L.Y. 1883 CC applied Bowden v South West Water Services Ltd [1998] 3 C.M.L.R. 330; [1998] Eu. L.R. 418; [1998] Env. L.R. 445 QBD distinguished Perry v Kendricks Transport [1956] 1 W.L.R. 85; [1956] 1 All E.R. 154; (1956) 100 S.J. 52 CA considered McLaughlan v Craig 1948 S.C. 599; 1948 S.L.T. 483; 1948 S.L.T. (Notes) 53 IH (1 Div) applied Gilson v Kerrier DC [1976] 1 W.L.R. 904; [1976] 3 All E.R. 343; 75 L.G.R. 60; (1976) 120 S.J. 572 CA (Civ Div) not applied Bottoni v Henderson (1978) 90 D.L.R. (3d) 301 HC (Ont) referred to Matheson v Northcote College Board of Governors [1975] 2 N.Z.L.R. 106 considered Smith v Scott [1973] Ch. 314; [1972] 3 W.L.R. 783; [1972] 3 All E.R. 645; (1972) 116 S.J. 785 Ch D considered Doughty v Turner Manufacturing Co [1964] 1 Q.B. 518; [1964] 2 W.L.R. 240; [1964] 1 All E.R. 98; (1964) 108 S.J. 53 CA applied James (Noel T) v Central Electricity Authority (1958) 108 L.J. 250 applied © 2010 Thomson Reuters. 1868 WL 9885 Page 8 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 (1868) L.R. 3 H.L. 330 Rogers v Kaus [1976] C.L.Y. 330.u considered Wise Bros Pty v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) 75 C.L.R. 59; (1947) 21 A.L.J. 287 HC (Aus) considered Transco Plc v Stockport MBC [2001] EWCA Civ 212; [2001] Env. L.R. 44; (2001) 3 L.G.L.R. 33; [2001] 9 E.G. 228 (C.S.); (2001) 98(9) L.S.G. 42; [2001] Env. L.R. D11; Daily Telegraph, March 6, 2001; Official Transcript CA (Civ Div) considered C Burley Ltd v Stepney Corp [1947] 1 All E.R. 507; (1947) 80 Ll. L. Rep. 289; (1947) 111 J.P. 258; 176 L.T. 535 KBD applied Curtis v Lutes [1953] 4 D.L.R.