REMARKS
On the Present State of the
EPPING FOREST QUESTION.
The Epping Forest Commissioners, during the several
years occupied since their appointment, tackled to their
labours with an industry, energy, and enlightened
ability and fairness that promised the happiest results
to all those who have so long and zealously laboured for
the attainment of that great object so plainly stated by
the Chairman at their first and subsequent meetings—
the preservation of Epping Forest for the enjoyment and
recreation of the public. It is deeply to be regretted
that the Draft Scheme, when submitted to the public,
fails in carrying out this important and most valuable
object.
It is now over a year since the memorable judgment
of the Master of the Bolls was delivered, which laid
down clearly and emphatically that all enclosures were
utterly illegal against the rights of the commoners.
He says:—"I am only asked to decide upon enclosures,
not houses or curtilages to houses, but, in fact, the
commoners could claim their rights so far as to pull
down houses."
This is the clear and absolute law, which the City
undertook to carry out by giving notices to all enclosers
of land, not being houses or curtilages to houses (760
acres of most valuable land, besides the large amounts
purchased by the City), to take down or remove their
illegal fences, and restore to the commoners what they
have been so long deprived of.
They also promised faithfully, when first before the
Commissioners, to carry this out; but I regret to say it
has not been done, and is apparently given up by the
City, and the decision of the Master of the Rolls is