Poster, February 1870?: "Preservation of Wandsworth Common: To the Working Men and others... "
[COMPARE & CONTRAST WITH THE "DOWN WITH THE FENCES" POSTER = A TALE OF TWO POSTERS?]
A very different approach. A more restrained, formal typography. No alternating call-and-response rhetoric. And above all, there is no call to "DESTROY THE FENCES". The last line is "We must all pull together - and may you long enjoy, in your spare time and holidays, the pleasure of breathing the pure air of UNENCLOSED WANDSWORTH COMMON!"
[http://www.chargeofthelightbrigade.com/wc/wandsworth_common/years/1870/1870_preservation_of_wandsworth_common_poster_400.jpg]
(Click on image to enlarge)
PRESERVATION OF WANDSWORTH COMMON.
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To the Working Men and others of Battersea, Wandsworth, Lambeth, and other parts of South and West London.
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The preservation of Wandsworth Common for the purposes of healthful recreation and enjoyment, is a question of the greatest importance to the Working Men of this District.
The present condition of a large portion of this Common, the unsightly holes and heaps of rubbish in various parts, the ENCLOSURES which have been made, and the character of the buildings erected on portions of such enclosures, give some idea of the future uses to which the remainder of the Common will probably be applied unless a stop is put to further encroachments.
The agents of the present Lord of the Manor appear to act as if the Common were private property, instead of being common land. For a long time, thousands of people have been lamenting and grumbling about the gradual reduction in the size of the Common, but this does of course not stop it.
Now, however, Mr. H. W. PEEK, M.P., has come forward as the Champion of the Common, and has made a very spirited offer in the following letter, dated February 7th 1870, addressed to Mr. Buckmaster:
"The public may grumble as much as they please, that will never stop encroachments or enclosures. What I have been thinking of is this; round Clapham Common there are many wealthy gentlemen, some of whom are " beginning to be alarmed at Lord Spencer declining to renew the lease of that part which belongs to him - and in the neighbourhood of Wandsworth there aro many well-to-do people.
"If these will pay £4,000 into a bank, I will add £1,000, and as a Battersea copyholder, would at once commence proceedings to take up everything irregular II during the legal term, which I believe is 20 years.
" I will hold myself bound to this offer till .Tune, 1870, but no longer."
In consequence of this letter, the following Committee has been organized for collecting the sum specified, viz.:
Treasurers:
Mr. JAMES LORD, St. John's Hill,
Mr. C. LAMBERT, Wandsworth Common,
Secretaries:
Mr. J. C. BUCKMASTER, St. John's Hill,
Mr. BICKERDIKE, Elm Terrace, St. John's Hill,
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Mr. C. ECCLES, Lavender Sweep
Mr. F. BERTOLACCI, Park Road
Mr. CUMMINS, Nightingale Lane
Mr. WARRINGTON, ditto.
Mr. G. JENNINGS, ditto.
Mr. J. ROSE, Nightingale Lane.
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Mr. TOM TAYLOR, Lavender Sweep
Mr. H. WHITING. Lavender Hill
Mr. M. WHITING, ditto
Mr. E. R. RANSOME, Wandsworth Common
Mr. MILLIS COVENTRY, ditto.
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Mr. CONDER, Park Road
Mr. BASS, Battersea.
Mr. OULDS, 25, Lavender Road.
Mr. HUNTER. Louvaine Road.
Mr. N. SENIOR, Lavender Hill.
Mr. GREVALLE, Lavender Hill.
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A number of influential gentlemen have already promised sums varying from £25 to £100 each, but as the amount to be raised is considerable, and as the Common is if anything more valuable to Working Men than it is to those who have private grounds and gardens of their own, this appeal is made to you, to assist as much as may be possible, and that without loss of time.
You should at once make arrangements in your respective factories and localities, for paying weekly subscriptions to some one of your number, or employers, until the time comes for handing the amount over to the Treasurers.
If you wish to see the 150 acres of Common yet left, preserved for the enjoyment of yourselves and your children, you must lose no time:
You see the date named in the terms of Mr. PEEK'S offer!
Now let us show him that we are willing to meet him in the same patriotic spirit, and when the victory has been won, you will have both pleasure and pride in the thought that you helped, according to your ability, in preserving the Common for the benefit of yourselves and those who come after you.
We must all pull together - and may you long enjoy, in your spare time and holidays, the pleasure of breathing the pure air of UNENCLOSED WANDSWORTH COMMON!
