Chislehurst Common and St Paul’s Cray Common have been sold ....... to The Chislehurst Society.
I understand that the Society paid £150,000, plus costs of £10,000.
The commons embody the ancient ‘Right to roam’ and have been fiercely protected by local residents for centuries. History records various moments when the people of Chislehurst stood up to the Lord of the Manor to maintain their rights as ‘Commoners’ and prevent enclosure. Prominent residents lobbied for an Act of Parliament to guarantee both protection of the land and a public right to use it. The Act was passed in 1888 and remains in force to this day.
The freeholder of the commons carries the title ‘Lord of the Manor’. Since 1975 the title has been held by Family Trusts on behalf of the Marsham-Townshend family. It made the decision to sell as it is not involved in the day-to-day running of the commons, nor is it obliged to finance them.
As none of the family lives locally, it was their wish that ownership be transferred to a local entity better placed to act in the interests of Chislehurst.
Purchase of the commons is historically significant because, for the first time in history, the land is now owned by a charitable entity representative of the people of Chislehurst. The Society’s main purpose is the preservation and protection of local amenities - including the natural environment. Hurrah!
chislehurst-society.org.uk/Pages/News/Commons.html 
Comments
Bastards
They'll get a few houses on there!