Enclosure and improvement : an investigation into the motives for parliamentary enclosure
This thesis establishes and examines the variety of motives for parliamentary enclosure. Its aim is not to determine their importance or frequency, except in general terms, because the detailed research of all the acts where suitable sources survive is beyond the scope of a single doctoral thesis. The, aim is rather to show the accepted view that the 'agricultural profit' motive alone (via the agency of higher prices, land values and rents) accounts for the parliamentary enclosure movement is unsatisfactory. It is argued that to understand the variety of motives for parliamentary enclosure, detailed research in estate papers, parish records and newspapers is required, rather than a statistical approach matching price rises or interest rates with the frequency of enclosure acts. The latter can establish coincidences but not definite correlations. The thesis draws together existing and often overlooked studies with extensive primary research to establish a variety of motives for enclosure apart from agricultural profit. After demonstrating the legal benefits to be derived from acts rather than agreements, other reasons for obtaining acts are examined. The most important of these motives were opening up mining
Brown, David George
History
Enclosure and improvement : an investigation into the motives for parliamentary enclosure. This thesis establishes and examines the variety of motives for parliamentary enclosure. Its aim is not to determine their importance or frequency, except in general terms, because the detailed research of all the acts where suitable sources survive is beyond the scope of a single doctoral thesis. The, aim is rather to show the accepted view that the 'agricultural profit' motive alone (via the agency of higher prices, land values and rents) accounts for the parliamentary enclosure movement is unsatisfactory. It is argued that to understand the variety of motives for parliamentary enclosure, detailed research in estate papers, parish records and newspapers is required, rather than a statistical approach matching price rises or interest rates with the frequency of enclosure acts. The latter can establish coincidences but not definite correlations. The thesis draws together existing and often overlooked studies with extensive primary research to establish a variety of motives for enclosure apart from agricultural profit. After demonstrating the legal benefits to be derived from acts rather than agreements, other reasons for obtaining acts are examined. The most important of these motives were opening up mining
enclosure improvement investigation motif parliamentary enclosure establishes examines variety motif parliamentary enclosure aim_determine importance frequency except general term detailed act suitable source survive beyond scope single doctoral thesis aim rather show accepted view agricultural profit motive alone via agency high price land value rent account parliamentary enclosure movement unsatisfactory argue variety motif parliamentary enclosure detailed estate paper parish_record newspaper require rather statistical matching price rise interest rate frequency enclosure act latter establish coincidence definite correlation draw_together exist often_overlook study extensive primary establish variety motif enclosure apart agricultural profit demonstrate legal benefit derive act rather agreement reason obtain act examine important motif open mining