Enclosures Act 1769

In 1769 the parish of Eaton was enclosed into separate parcels of land. Prior to this land had been held as 'common' with villagers having commoners rights for grazing etc., and large fields which were divided into strips with strips allocated to individuals. Therefore an individual farmer might have strips of land they managed which were not close together. 

In Eaton some enclosures had happened prior to 1769 and this is evident with the number of freeholders who were present in the land allocation discussions.  The enclosures act process involved villagers (usually just the freeholders), meeting under the supervision of surveyors and/or commissioners. Eaton's first meeting was held on the 15th May 1769 at the house of Thomas Thorold ‘called or known by the sign of the millstone’. The commissioners were not local men, the nearest coming from Grantham, and it is likely that they were selected and appointed by the Duke of Rutland, the major landowner in the parish. They were James Garnar of Grantham, John Ward of the city of York and Joseph Stubbins  of Nottingham gentlemen, with Miles Lowley the younger of Burley in the County of Rutland gentleman, added in the third meeting in July 1769. 

The final outcome was published in December 1770. The total 1,800 acres were divided as follows:

The Duke of Rutland: 809 acres 1 rood 9 perches

Charles Morley and Anthony Rogers: 96 acres 3 roods 38 perches

Reverend Richard Hardy (Vicar and incumbent) in lieu of tithes 34 acres 0 roods, 6 perches

Thomas Wright: 25 acres  2 roods  37 perches

William Goode: 11 acres  0 roods  9 perches

John Mason: 1 acres  1 roods  26 perches

John Morris:  9 acres  0 roods  0 perches

Edward George (a minor): 10 acres  2 roods  20 perches

Thomas Morris: 0 acres  0 roods  29 perches (this was a piece of land for a post mill)

Thomas Thorold: 10 acres, 1 rood, 16 perches

Allotment for repair of the church: 14 acres, 3 roods, 36 perches

Vicars Glebe: 0 acres, 2 roods 11 perches

Churchwardens abs Overseers of Eaton:  3 acres 0 roods 0 perches

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Unfortunately no accompanying map survives and so were are currently in the process of trying to recreate it based on the often vague descriptions in the document which would have had more meaning to those resident in the parish who were aware of the then field names. 

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The document also makes provision for the road ways and is clear on who is responsible for managing boundaries. 

All landowners were charged for the commissioners time and the individual costs are given which are generally proportionate to the area of land held.

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A transcript is available here in pdf form