Podcast Title: Stuff You Should Know
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
Episode: The Fencing Of The Commons
Release Date: June 17, 2025

Introduction

In the episode titled "The Fencing Of The Commons," hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant delve into the historical phenomenon of enclosure in England, exploring its origins, implications, and lasting impacts on society and the world. Building upon their previous discussion on the Tragedy of the Commons, they unravel how fencing the commons transformed English society and fueled the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions.

Historical Origins of the Commons

William the Conqueror and Land Division

The discussion begins with William the Conqueror in 1066, who, after conquering England, initiated the division of land among the wealthy nobles. This marked the beginning of the medieval era, where land was segmented into manors, peasant villages, farmland, and the commons.

Josh Clark [03:04]: "These were collectively one single farmer making these decisions on when to harvest, when to plow, when to do all that stuff."

Medieval Commons and Usufructory Rights

The commons were areas where commoners had usufructory rights—the legal right to use and benefit from the land without owning it. This system allowed shared usage, fostering a cooperative approach to farming and resource management.

Chuck Bryant [03:39]: "Because that was a common area. And that's what the commons are in this case too."

Statute of Merton and the Black Death

Statute of Merton

Around 1350, the Statute of Merton was enacted, allowing lords to enclose parts of their land legally, provided sufficient commons remained for commoners. Initially, this statute had minimal impact.

Impact of the Black Death

However, the Black Death in the mid-14th century drastically altered England's trajectory. With half the population decimated, the labor shortage empowered peasants to demand better wages and conditions, prompting a shift from farming to more profitable ventures like sheep grazing for the wool trade.

Chuck Bryant [12:18]: "Because had the Black Death not happened, obviously a lot of people would have still been alive."

The Enclosure Movement

First Wave of Enclosure

Post-Black Death, the profitability of wool led to the first wave of enclosures in the 14th and 15th centuries. Landowners converted common land into private property for sheep grazing, often forcibly displacing peasants.

Chuck Bryant [13:27]: "Saying, like, oh, yeah, I want to enclose this. I'm going to enclose this and turn it into grazing land for sheep."

Resistance and Legislation

Enclosures were enforced through literally fencing the land, using hedges or barriers to contain livestock. Peasants resisted these changes violently, with notable uprisings like the 1381 Peasants' Revolt and groups like the Diggers during the English Civil War challenging the loss of communal lands.

Josh Clark [16:09]: "I know they really took the brunt of it."

Second Wave of Enclosure

A second, more intense wave of enclosure occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, driven by the needs of the Industrial Revolution. The transformation aimed to increase agricultural efficiency to support a growing urban workforce.

Josh Clark [20:21]: "Because that was your aim, if you're on that side of the argument, you could point to all those things and saying, like, hey, our navy's strong."

Societal and Economic Impacts

Agricultural Efficiency and Industrialization

Enclosure facilitated the shift from small-scale farming to large, consolidated agricultural estates. This not only boosted agricultural productivity but also freed up labor for the burgeoning factories in urban centers, accelerating the Industrial Revolution.

Josh Clark [40:19]: "Our agricultural production will never be able to keep up with population."

Urbanization and Social Change

The displacement of peasants led to significant urban migration, swelling the populations of cities like London. While this supported industrial growth, it also resulted in poor living conditions, malnutrition, and labor exploitation for many workers.

Chuck Bryant [39:40]: "It's a bad deal. But because there was so much money to be made."

Global Repercussions and Exporting Enclosure

Colonial Expansion

Britain exported the enclosure model to its colonies, imposing similar land grabs and displacements elsewhere. This not only disrupted local communities but also fueled the extraction of raw materials, further strengthening the British Empire.

Chuck Bryant [44:15]: "There are still some comments today, not every single One of them was done away with."

Influence on Other Nations

Enclosure influenced land reforms in other countries, such as Russia's abolition of serfdom in 1861, setting the stage for future revolutions by highlighting the tensions between landowners and the working class.

Josh Clark [43:11]: "They were being foisted upon them so fast."

End of the Enclosure Era

Commons Preservation Society and Legal Reforms

By the late 19th century, opposition to enclosure led to the formation of the Commons Preservation Society. Legislative changes, including the Commons Act of 1876, restricted the ability to enclose land solely for private gain unless a public benefit was demonstrated.

Chuck Bryant [25:57]: "They passed about 4,000 of these between 1750 and 1860."

Formation of the National Trust

The efforts culminated in the establishment of the National Trust, which paradoxically protected many of the very hedges and lands that had facilitated enclosure, ensuring their preservation for public enjoyment and historical significance.

Josh Clark [46:11]: "Protects the very same hedges that created enclosure in the first place."

Conclusion

"The Fencing Of The Commons" offers a comprehensive exploration of the enclosure movement, highlighting its role in shaping modern Britain and its global implications. Josh and Chuck effectively illustrate how economic motivations, legislative actions, and social resistance intertwined to transform communal land use, drive industrialization, and alter societal structures—effects that resonate to this day.

Notable Quotes

• Josh Clark [03:04]: "These were collectively one single farmer making these decisions on when to harvest, when to plow, when to do all that stuff."

• Chuck Bryant [13:27]: "Saying, like, oh, yeah, I want to enclose this. I'm going to enclose this and turn it into grazing land for sheep."

• Josh Clark [16:09]: "I know they really took the brunt of it."

• Josh Clark [40:19]: "Our agricultural production will never be able to keep up with population."

• Josh Clark [46:11]: "Protects the very same hedges that created enclosure in the first place."

Key Takeaways

• Enclosure was a pivotal movement that transitioned shared communal lands in England to private ownership, reshaping the agricultural landscape.

• The Black Death significantly influenced enclosure by creating a labor shortage that empowered peasants but favored profitable ventures like sheep farming.

• Resistance to enclosure, though ultimately unsuccessful, highlighted the social tensions and laid the groundwork for future labor movements.

• The Industrial Revolution was both a cause and effect of enclosure, as increased agricultural efficiency necessitated a labor force for burgeoning industries.

• Legislative reforms and organizations like the Commons Preservation Society eventually curtailed enclosure, leading to the preservation of communal lands for public use.

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