1772: 12 George 3 c.65: An Act to extinguish the Right of Common upon an Acre of Ground called White Lyon, or Hangman’s Acre, in Saint George’s Fields, in the County of Surrey.

[Preamble.]

WHEREAS the Prison called The House of Correction, in the Borough of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, is too small, unhealthy, inconvenient, and unsafe, and Persons committed to the said Prison for Felony cannot be kept separate from those committed for small Misdemeanors, which greatly tends to the Ruin and entire Corruption of the latter: And whereas it has, upon Inquiry, been found absolutely necessary to rebuild the said Prison in a more convenient Situation: And whereas the County of Surrey is seised or possessed of an Acre of Ground in Saint George’s Fields, called White Lyon, or Hangmans Acre, situate near the King’s Bench Prison, which is a proper Place for erecting the said House of Correction: And whereas the Justices of the Peace, at the Quarter-session of the Peace held for the said County, on the Fourteenth Day of January, One thousand seven hundred and seventy-two, did unanimously agree to build a new House of Correction on the said Ground; but as the Owners of certain Lands in Saint George’s Fields have a Right of Common for their Cattle, at certain Times of the Year, upon the said Acre, promiscuously with other Lands, (though such Right is of no real Value with respect to the said Acre), the Building cannot be erected unless such Right be extinguished, which cannot be done without the Authority of Parliament: May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[After the passing hereof, all RIght of Common upon White Lyon Acre shall cease, and be extinguished.]

That from and after the passing of this Act, all Right of Common, or Common of Pasture, in, over, and upon the said Acre of Land called White Lyon, or, Hangman’s Acre, shall cease, determine, and be for ever extinguished.

[Publick Act.]

II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be taken and allowed, in all Courts, as a Publick Act; and all Judges and Justices are hereby required to take Notice thereof, without specially pleading the same.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, volume 11.

See also: Parliament Archives.