The Battle for Broxhead Common
Broxhead Common
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 57
The Statutory Declaration of MRP continued:
- Paragraph 6.1 Here again we see that compulsory purchase of a piece of the common land between Hampshire County Council and the ‘said landowner’ is being used as evidence of ownership!
- Paragraph 7.1. Mr Porter is now shown a plan in which he is informed that such land does not fall in any of the title deeds.
- Paragraph 7.2. He confirms that such land has been farmed as part of the property since the mid 1960’s. The fields are known as Broxhead Field and Hatch approximately 7.22 hectares. “Neither Mr Whitfield to the best of my knowledge nor I, have any deeds or documents relating to the ownership of such land.”
2002 Plan with MRP Statutory Declaration Adobe Scan 17 Dec 2021 - Paragraph 7.3 Mr Porter goes on to say: “It is my assumption that the land was merely omitted accidentally from the original Conveyance of Broxhead Field to Mr Myers, purely as a result of an error in the preparation of the plan”. Now that is some assumption and if we take another look of the 1787 Map drawn up by the Land Commissioners of Geo. 111 for their survey, this land is clearly shown as common land. It appears also to be the subject of a Public Inquiry held in August 1974 into Commons Registration 1965. More of which later.
1787 Part of Commissioners Map - Paragraph 8.1 Mr Porter then scrutinised the 1962 Statutory Declaration of Patricia Margaret Elphinstone Barnard who was formerly the widow of G. A. McAndrew the owner of Headley Wood Farm. The conveyance of the same date states that she believes the common to be part of her estate, although there are no deeds or documents to support it!
- Paragraph 8. 2 The above is confirmed by MRP
Broxhead Common
To be continued.