2000 Years of English History.
This book is about the remarkable people from this modest Huntingdonshire village who, over the past two millennia of England’s history, exercised power and influence both locally and on the national stage. The book gives a detailed biography of each of these characters, setting their lives in the wider context of English history from the time of the Romans to the present day.
An introduction to Chapter 21: The Enclosure Acts 1804–1812
Historical discussions of the Enclosure Acts have tended to become very polarised, some arguing that they were simply a land grab by rich landowners, others putting the case that agricultural productivity and efficiency were thereby greatly improved. One effect that the Acts had was to force smallholders off their land and into the industrial cities of the Midlands and North. The Acts were arguably responsible for the most significant changes to the English countryside since William the Conqueror. This chapter tells how Great Staughton was affected.
Feedback is welcome:
aw.staughton@gmail.com
NEXT WEEK: Chapter 22: Call of Duty
The next chapter of the book will be uploaded to the website on Monday February 13
Click the PDF below to read Chapter 21.