Enclosure
History: Edexcel A Level England, 1509-1603, topic 4.2.3
Enclosure
Enclosure was met with hostility. It was the cause of several uprisings in Tudor England.
Enclosure
- This meant that agricultural land which was once common (available to any farmer) was now exclusively owned.
- Farmers could work on a larger scale and try new farming techniques. This led to an increase in production and greater profitability.
- But enclosure meant many poor farmers lost their land and livelihood and were forced to move elsewhere.
State efforts to prevent enclosure
- The state was anxious to prevent enclosure.
- The Muddled Acts were passed in 1489 and 1515 to prevent enclosure.
- Cromwell passed an act in 1534 designed to limit how many sheep an individual could own.
- But it was very difficult to stop enclosure.
Uprisings against enclosure
- There were disturbances over enclosure.
- e.g. Nottingham 1512, Gloucester 1513, London 1514
- The Pontefract articles from the Pilgrimage of Grace and the Mousehold articles from Kett’s rebellion both highlight that enclosure was a concern.
- Rebels believed that enclosure was a denial of common rights.
Test yourself on Enclosure
Due to enclosure, who lost their land and livelihood?