Manuscripts and Special Collections
Ma S 16 : Report of Mr Thomas Huskinson recommending enclosure of Laxton, 1862
Upon this Estate of 2322 acres, there are only
2 farms exceeding 200 acres each
3 [farms] between 150 and 200 acres
5 [farms between 100 and 150 [acres]
3 [farms between 50 and 100 [acres]
6 [farms between 25 and 50 [acres]
13 [farms between 5 and 25 [acres]
17 Cottages under 5 [acres]
It is impossible a Land Owner can derive the full value from an Estate so occupied, or that under such conditions Land can yield that amount of Rent to the Owner, employment to the Labourers or produce to the Consumer, which is on general grounds desirable, but which is only possible under larger holdings with every appliance which larger capital, the best implements and the most economical arrangement of Land and Buildings can produce.
In disparaging small Farms, I speak only of small Arable Farms. There are many cases where small quantities of Grass Land from 5 to 20 acres may be let with great advantage to both Landlord and Tenant and Laxton is one of them.
Inclosure
The greatest cause of depreciation in the present value of this Estate and the one impediment to all Improvement, is the existence of the right of Common, and the uninclosed condition of the Open Fields. Until Inclosure, no substantial improvement is possible. The Land cannot be drained with advantage, Buildings cannot be central, Farms re-allotted or the Lands renovated by seeding and pasturing with Stock, and the present miserable waste of time, labour and money must continue.
