History Crowfield - a frontier forest settlement's history 18th Century From the middle 17th Century to late 18th Century two developments had far reaching effects on Crowfield: · The great landowners built themselves new houses and embellished their surroundings · The Inclosure Act for Syresham of 1763 took away the right of common pasture At nearby Astwell, Sir George Shirley, built a magnificent house with gardens and a park. The gentrification of the area had begun. Parliament decided to authorize inclosure of all the land of England to improve agricultural efficiency and also give a legal basis for the ownership of land. By the 17th Century, the Duke of Bridgewater owned vast tracts of nearby land including Whistley woods and the use of the woods by the commoners of Crowfield was a constant sore to him. In 1664 he raised a complaint against Thomas Dancer and others in Chancery and again in 1665 against Thomas Dadwood. Jurors were taken around the boundaries and some sort of compromise was reached, but the matter was not resolved and there was constant friction over the ancient rights. The Inclosure Act of Syresham 1763 took away the rights of common pasture. Of the 117 acres of Crowfield Common, the Duke of Bridgewater received 40 acres adjoining his land at Whistley Farm and Earl Ferrers at Astwell Park obtained 14 acres adjoining .The villagers were compensated by allocation of a parcel of land under the authority of the Rector and churchwarden of the Syresham church for the most needy in the village. What happened to the rest of the land? Could it be the freeholders of Crowfield acquired title to the land, ensuring its survival. Inclosure also specified the line and size of the roads: 30 ft for the Welsh Lane (the straight Stretch from Staple Leys to Whistley) and the gates at Staple gate had to swing both ways. Upkeep of public roads was the responsibility of the villagers and 2 acres of gravel pits were provided and turnpikes with toll gates authorized to pay for their upkeep. It is said that Dick Turpin was nearly apprehended at the Green Man, so he to may have been a visitor to Crowfield! The new fields were rectangular and had to be fenced and hawthorn hedges planted. The overall effect was the improved efficiency of the land needed to feed the growing population but it also meant the disappearance of the small farmer, unless he was a freeholder. Crowfield with its freeholders continued to survive and indeed grow.