CHAPTER IX - THE COMMONS OF THE CHEDDAR AREA

Abstract

This chapter explores the commons of the Cheddar area. The whole of the high lands above Cheddar were the common grazing ground for the local community for ages and practically, every village has a number of commoners who claimed the right of pasturing their sheep and cattle on the open hills. The Cheddar folk would go in defense of their rights, not stopping short of murder and concealment of the body. These violent measures were not confined to the poorer classes as it was seen that the Lords of the Manors also took part in these defensive measures. No consecutive story of the commons and manors of the district and the subsequent Enclosure Acts has ever been written, and no facts are readily obtained. However, there is an excellent material for the study of the neighboring manor of Winscombe that was found among the documents of the Dean and Chapter of Wells. Between that manor and the Cheddar manors lay and to a large extent still lies a great area where rights of common still exist to this day, and over which the commoners of xbridge still exercise their ancient rights.