The Battle for Broxhead Common
2018 Strictly Private gate on Broxhead Common with the 80 acres beyond
The Case for Hampshire County Council – PART 99
- Mrs Patricia Elphinstone Barnard, the widow of G. W. McAndrew had sold Headley Wood Farm in 1962 to Sefton Siegfried Myers. She had no pre-registration title deeds or any other documentation that would pass the legal estate for ownership of Broxhead Common, nothing that is except her belief that the McAndrews had always owned it. Nevertheless, she had been persuaded to sell it with Headley Wood Farm by making a Statutory Declaration to the fact.
- However, when Mr Myers started fencing in large sections of the common land the following year, no one was more offended than she.
- This can be seen from a letter she wrote to one of the commoner’s, a Mr Nicholson. He must have written to her as the previous owner of the land, in the hope that she could shed some light on the grievous situation they now believed themselves to be in.
- It is clear from her reply that not only was there confusion but misunderstanding also. For example, she opens by saying that she has no rights on the East side of the common but only on the West. It is strange that people are being misinformed that the Common can be split in two with all the rights being on the West side and only two on the East!
1978 Patricia Barnard letter to Nicholson_000041 - Her criticism of Mr Squibb’s decision in which she says “…politically and ethically goes against the amenities and health of Headley, Whitehill parishes,” should have been reserved for Hampshire County Council rather than the unfortunate Chief Commons Commissioner who had decided that the whole of Broxhead Common should be registered as common land.
- Indeed, there may no longer be small holdings on the edge of the common, but they are well documented in the Finance Act 1910, including Headley Wood Farm itself which can be seen to have been copyhold.
1910 Headley Wood Farm Finance Act12112021
FP48 Broxhead continues across the common land
Next time: What do Hampshire County Council want now?