[HoWC: george-hyde-wollaston-battersea-clapham-boundary-1824.html.]
HoWC: george-hyde-wollaston-battersea-clapham-boundary-1824.pdf.]
Mike Tuffrey sent this to me 2025
He also sent images of the original document.
Found in Lambeth Archives while doing a preliminary listing of Eric Smith papers Box 40 not catalogued
December 2024
Transcription of text from images by ChatGPT, corrected
Manor of Battersea and Wandsworth in the County of Surrey At a General Court held for the said Manor on the 11th day of May 1824.
Also at this court was read a Report of George Hyde Wollaston Esquire one of the Common Keepers of this Manor addressed to the Deputy Stewards and which is in the following terms that is to say.
To
Charles Bicknell Esq.
and
Anthony Spedding Esq. the Deputy Stewards of the Manor of Battersea and Wandsworth.
Clapham Common The 8th May 1824
Gentlemen,
Having lately obtained an authentic copy of the Perambulation of the Manor of Battersea and Wandsworth in the time of James 1st dated the 6th February 1605 and which was certified by a Jury of 18 persons it becomes incumbent upon me to inform you what I have thought it my duty to do under the appointment dated the 13th April 1818 of one of the Common Stewards of that Manor.
I have long been in possession of a partial extract from the above mentioned document which I conceived to be that of the Perambulation of the Parish of Battersea and it was not till very lately that I understood it to be an extract from the Perambulation of the boundaries of the Manor. With the knowledge I have of the lands bordering upon the Parish of Clapham I felt perfectly secure in proving the line of Boundary of the Manor of Battersea upon the whole of that part which could have any reference to the Parish of Clapham and through the Medium of a Friend I communicated my view of the state of the case to the present Lord of the Manor of Clapham Wm Bowyer Atkins Esq. of Regency Square Brighton but I have been disappointed…
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in my expectations of the result of the communication & I have to report to you -
“That upon mature consideration of the subject he does not perceive any reason that should induce him to depart from the course which his Predecessors have pursued for more than a century in relation to the disputed boundary of the Manor.”
I have therefore now to return to you the Map which I made some years ago for the use of Lord Spencer. This Map or Plan was designed to show the discordant state of the Boundary of the Parishes hoping however that it might throw some light upon the uncertain boundary of the Manor which has been the cause of that negative line of Duty which I have been obliged to pursue since my appointment.
You will collect from the line of Perambulation of the Manor in the time of James 1st which we have before us that after proceeding from the Parish of Putney of course through Battersea by the River side the boundary of the Manor joins the Parish of Lambeth at a place called The Lady Acre & from thence by the Common Sewer adjoining the Parish of Clapham to a close called "Little Holborn" a spot well known by the Parishioners of Battersea here you will enter upon the Map which I now return you being part of that which I made for my amusement several years past without any idea of showing a boundary line either of the Parishes or of the Manors.
From "Little Holborn" that part of the boundary line which is of importance is thus described.
“Then from this Common Sewer leading to a ditch ende at Bromwells Corner in the Heath called the East Heath”
It does not appear that any doubt can be entertained that this part of the boundary line is the present footway leading from the Wandsworth Road up to Clapham Common by the…
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Blind Lane now called Wix’s Lane. Old Title Deeds shew that in that cause [course] there was a Field called Broom Hill & that the Common was called Washingham o[ther]wise Battersea Common or East Heath in contradistinction to Wandsworth Common which was called West Heath.
“And from Bromell’s Corner leading along by a bounded ditche made by the Inhabitants of Battersea to a close in the Parish of Streatham”
At the end of Wix’s Lane there is a boundary post of the Parish of Battersea & another across the Road upon the Common leading evidently to the ditch always asserted as having been made & perambulated by the Parishioners of Battersea to a close in the Parish of Streatham which must be that spot of ground now built upon on the corner of the Road leading to Tooting as there is no other spot upon Clapham Common which belongs to Streatham Parish. Then it proceeds thus
“Leading along by certain Lands belonging to the Parish of Clapham down Balaam Lane to the Common Sewer”
This description of the boundary of the Manor corresponds most minutely with the ditch in front of the lands acknowledged to be in Clapham Parish & running down Balaam Lane now called Nightingale Lane to the Common Sewer.
Having now done with the Perambulation made in the time of James 1st, I must beg leave to remark upon the other proceedings relating to the Manor & I shall begin in point of date by an Inquisition stated to have been taken the 30th August 1639 after the death of Sir Henry Atkins altho’ this Paper is in my handwriting I can only say that it was given me by the late Mr. Baldwin about the year 1800 as a Document among others relating to the…
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manorial rights & perhaps you will at least find it worthy of remark that concluding the boundary line to be where I state it to run i.e. diagonally across the Common there will still remain as belonging to the Manor of Clapham the whole quantity of land contained in that Inquisition.
We come now to the proceedings in Chancery in 1718 and here I have to observe that the boundary of the Manor of Clapham as described in the Bill put in by Sir Henry Atkins is quite unintelligible but that the Answer on the part of Lord St. John then Lord of the Manor of Battersea evidently corresponds with the Boundary Line & we have now before us ( of James 1st) altho' it must appear that his Lordship was then ignorant of the existence of a document of that importance.
I am aware that the proceedings in Chancery of 1718 were followed by depositions taken in 1719. I have not perused them but as far as I have heard of their boasted merit they do not all relate to the boundary of the Manor but that they merely record the usages of the Neighbours in those times tending to prove the custom of inter-commonage & that it was not known that Cattle were ever impounded for straying from one part of the Common to the other & I will submit to you here whether it may not appear upon a nice examination of those depositions that both the boundary of the Manor and of the Parish may be very decidedly ascertained.
I cannot doubt for one moment that the right boundary of the Manor of Battersea runs in the line which I have now marked upon the Map which I have presented to you some years ago & which I now return you.
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Having thus stated to you my view of the Boundary of the Manor I rejoice that at the General Court Baron held at Wandsworth on the 18th day of April 1823 Mr. Robert Winter was allowed to remove the Spring Well which was a constant nuisance to the Neighbours & to the Publick. I have to report that I have taken away a fallen Tree from the spot of the old Spring Well & I shall account for it to you but I do not feel authorized to stop the depredations which are committed by John Smith (upon a part of the Common which I consider to be in the Manor of Battersea) altho’ he acts as agent for the Manor of Clapham he allows the turf and gravel to be carried away charging upon the spot
3s/ per hundred of Turf
5s/ per Load of mould
4s/ per Load of coarse Gravel
5s/ per Load of fine Hoggin
cutting the Turf & loading the mould & gravel being included in the price.
I have to observe that the above mentioned Manorial privileges are carried indifferently to the Inhabitants of either Parish but that according to the boundary line of the Manor and of the Parish of Battersea, we have too much reason to complain that our part of the Common is laid waste by the Lord of the Manor of Clapham while only a very trifling quantity of Turf is ever taken by his Agent from that part of the common which indisputably belongs to him.
It is understood that my Lord Spencer some years ago forbore to establish his rights because the Lord of the Manor of Clapham had alienated his Manorial rights for his lifetime & that he was residing abroad perhaps in obscure circumstances.
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That is now no longer the case. I have heard likewise that it was understood between my Lord Spencer and Mr. Thornton while he enjoyed the Manorial dues of Clapham that they were not to trespass upon their respective rights but with due deference I must be allowed to say that even such an understanding is not adhered to by the Lord of the Manor of Clapham and I must express with due respect the most earnest wish of the Inhabitants that some steps be taken to settle the rights of the parties as the only way to prevent that rapacious conduct which is pursued to the disgrace of the parties & the annoyance of the Neighbourhood.
I am Gentlemen Your Obed[ient] Humble Serv[ant] G. H. Wollaston
ChatGPT’s summary of the contents
The text from the five images outlines the following key points related to the boundaries, rights, and disputes concerning the Manor of Battersea, Wandsworth, and Clapham in Surrey during the early 19th century:
1. Historical Boundaries and Disputes:
The boundaries of the Manor of Battersea and Wandsworth have been historically contentious, particularly concerning the parish of Clapham.
George Hyde Wollaston, one of the Common Stewards, references a historical document from 1618 that detailed a perambulation (boundary walk) of the manor during the reign of James I.
Uncertainties remain about the exact boundary between Battersea and Clapham, particularly around Clapham Common.
2. Boundary Evidence and Map:
Wollaston submitted a map he created years earlier to clarify the disputed boundaries. This map aimed to highlight the boundary inconsistencies between the manors and parishes.
He notes a particular area called "Little Bottom" and discusses how the boundary passes through Clapham Common and joins the parish of Lambeth.
3. Manorial Rights and Encroachments:
Concerns are raised about encroachments and the improper use of Clapham Common, including turf and gravel extraction by agents of the Manor of Clapham.
Disputes exist regarding who holds the rights to various parts of the common, and there are complaints about overuse and damage to the land.
4. Legal Context and Previous Agreements:
References are made to legal proceedings in Chancery in 1710 and 1719 that discussed the manor boundaries but did not decisively resolve the issues.
A historical agreement or understanding between the Lords of the Manor of Battersea and Clapham to respect mutual rights is no longer upheld, exacerbating disputes.
5. Community Concerns:
The inhabitants of the area express frustration over unresolved boundary disputes, which lead to "rapacious conduct" and harm to the common land.
Wollaston advocates for definitive steps to settle the rights of the manors to prevent further conflict and protect the local community.
6. Specific Incidents and Recommendations:
A fallen tree and a nuisance spring well were addressed by Mr. Robert Hinde in 1823, highlighting ongoing management issues.
Wollaston urges action to clearly establish boundaries to prevent further exploitation of the land and to protect the integrity of the neighborhood.
7. Tone and Appeal:
Wollaston conveys a tone of urgency and respect, appealing for the resolution of long-standing disputes to preserve the common land and maintain harmony between the manors and their communities.
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