Encroachments on Epsom Common

It should be realised that the early encroachments on Epsom common were a form of silent, secretive, mini land grabs. Some of the people involved were local business men from the town such as John Bailey (Draper) and James Buggs (Corn Merchant), while others were opportunists from the surrounding areas and while some like William Cunningham, Richard Tickner, George Eggleton and Thomas Griffiths would go on to be successful residents, some names like William Skinner and Robert Spicer disappeared over time. All had one thing in common; they all encroached on the Common Waste. Although part of the Manor of Epsom, Epsom Common was seen as an unproductive waste area (the Lord of the Manors Common Waste) and any encroachments on its edge were of no importance.

The Lords of the Manor of Epsom were never resident (except the very last one, James Stuart Strange, for a short time at Wells House). The manorial estate was run by a steward and a bailiff on behalf of the Lord of the Manor, who tended to show no interest in the encroachments. It was such that, on one occasion, the steward was seen to actually support the claim of squatter’s rights on an encroachment, now known as 14 and 15 Willow Path.

The origins of the encroachments on Epsom Common have always been vague and seemingly lost to time, so this article attempts to correct that position.

The first map to formalise and detail the Common (even as we know it today) was the 1838/1843 Tithe map (see below) and in many ways, although not commissioned for this purpose but rather by default, it legalised a very fluid and unregulated boundary system of copyholds, manorial leaseholds and squatters’ rights or encroachments areas. Consequently, the 1838/1843 Tithe map is used as the best way to identify the encroachers. The boundaries between many of the individual plots was very fluid and remained so for many years.

Certain accounts suggest that the area was more- or- less defined by the time of the 1755-1775 Manorial Survey, but there is no evidence to support this as many of the encroachments listed are for other parts of Epsom. From the evidence that I have, most encroachment and development and settlements started mainly after 1800 in the last years of John Maltby as Lord of the Manor of Epsom.
The first account of an encroachment is mentioned in the 1755-1775 Manorial Survey, but no attempt was made to detail or map this encroachment. Although some settlement may have taken place earlier in association with brick and tile making in the copyhold premises of the Brickworks, these settlements were mainly at the top of what is now Wheelers Lane.

NB.
The first account of an encroachment:
The entry in Manorial Rolls. Manorial Survey 1755-1775.
John Belgrave of Epsom claims to hold one cottage, orchard and about ½ acre in the whole built upon and taken from the waste grounds of this Manor of Ebbisham.
No date or time given, a new encroachment.
30th and 31st December 1757.

Indenture of lease and release made between John Belgrave of the one part and Edward Wood of the other part, one cottage, orchard and about ½ acre.

1838/1843 Tithe map, annotated with a key to the names of the encroachers

The following is a list of names of the Encroachments, Manorial Leaseholds and Copyholds, together with a key to the map. This is not a definitive list as some names have been lost over time and encroachment silence.

Key Name
A John Belgrave of Epsom.
B James Elsey, Henry Bradford.
C William Cunningham.
D John Bailey.
E William King.
F Richard Tickner Snr.
G John Bowyer.
H George Eggleton.
I Thomas Sutton Snr.
J Samuel Harden.
K John Emm. The Elder.
L Luke Skinner.
M William Skinner.
N James Ratcliffe.
O Thomas Sutton.
P Richard Tickner.
Q George Porter.
R Thomas Faulkner.
T James Tickner.
U Robert Spicer.
V Edward Brown.
W Edward Ardy.
X William Ayling.
Y Thomas Sloper.
Z Arthur Chadband
2 Thomas Griffiths.
3 William Streeter.
4 William Porter.
5 James (Joseph) Buggs.
6 Manorial Copyholds.
7 Manorial Leaseholds

Sources:
Manorial Copyholds: Transaction through Court Baron and recorded on Manorial Rolls.
Manorial Leaseholds: Transactions outside of Court Baron and not recorded on Manorial Rolls.

This article is the third part of a trilogy on the history of Epsom Common, and should be read in conjunction with:

A short summary of Epsom Common and Others 1535-2014.

A Social History of Epsom Common.

Many hours have been spent in research through old documents and records to obtain the information needed to write this trilogy and although not the definite account, given the information at this time it is the best we have. Over time more information may become available and the trilogy updated.

Author

Terry Friday