Bedford Level and Swaffham Drainage Act 1767
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
(7 Geo. 3) C A P. LIII.
'WHEREAS certain Fen Lands and Low Grounds in that Part of theGreat Level of the Fenscalled theSouth Level , lying and being in the Township of Swaffham Prior , and in the several Parishes of Fen Ditton, Horningsea, Quoi, Bottisham , and Swaffham Bulbeck , in the County of Cambridge , containing in the Whose seven thousand Acres or thereabouts; about fifteen hundred Acres whereof are Common, and the rest are Severals, and which are bounded as follows; to wit, From the Ferry-place at Clayhithe, between the upper and lower Parts of the inclosed Grass Grounds at the Bottom of Clayhithe Field, called Hardridge (most of them being divided about the Middle by Quicks and Hedges) to Common Hardridge Gate; and then along the Outring Ditch of North Hill Closes next Hardridge Common (including all the said Common) to Bottisham Load, at a certain Place called Barr-Hill ; and round from thence between the upper and lower Parts of Sheep-North Hill Grounds, and of the inclosed Grass Grounds called the Rough, which lie on the North West Side of the Common Rough (most of the said inclosed Rough Grounds being divided about the Middle by Quicks and Hedges) and are all on the South East Side of Clayhithe Field; and then crossing the Common Rough Droveway, from a Gate thereupon, in a straight Line over Horningsea Herdwalk, to an Holt at the upper End of an inclosed Ground of Thomas Panton Esquire, now in the Occupation of Thomas Grain ; and along the said Holt to the hundred Acres of Adventure Land taken out of the High Fen; and so along the Outring Ditch, on the North West and South West Sides of the said Adventure Land, to an inclosed Ground of John Martin Esquire, in Quoi (a small Part whereof is Skirt Land, and the rest Fen); and then by the Edge of the Skirt Part of the said Ground, and along a Ditch between the upper and lower Parts of another Ground of the said John Martin Esquire, to the High-Fen Droveway leading from Horningsea to Quoi; and crossing the said Droveway, by the lower End of a Ground of the said John Martin Esquire, now in the Occupation of Mary Leach , to Lands of Thomas Panton Esquire, in Fen Ditton , called the Rush Grounds ; and round the upper Sides and Ends of the said Rush Grounds, and lower Ends of other adjoining Lots (including the same) to a Lot belonging to Soame Jenyns Esquire; and up the Outring Ditch on the West Side thereof to Black Ditch Drove, and then by the said Drove to the Black Ditch ; and up the same Southward to the next Division Ditch on the Quoi Side; and along the last-mentioned Ditch to the Skirts of the Uplands of Quoi-Hall ; and then round the said Skirts to the afore-mentioned Droveway leading from Horningsea to Quoi ; and so up the said Droveway to the low Droveway next the Fen; and then along the last-mentioned Droveway, and straight on from the upper End thereof to Bottisham Load Mill Dam; and so by the North Bank of the said Mill Dam to Dam Droveway; and by the said Droveway and Load Droveway to Bottisham Load; and then along the South West Bank of the said Load Eastward to the Common Gate below the Mill there; and so round the Skirts of the Uplands next the Outring Ditch of Bottisham Common, to a certain Gate called Cranney's Gate ; and from thence up Cranney's Droveway to the inclosed Pasture Grounds of Soame Jenyns Esquire, called the Holmes; and then round the South West Side of the said Grounds and Skirts of the other Inclosures there to Docking Droveway; and along the said Droveway to the Corner of the eight Acres of inclosed Pasture next to Bottisham Piece; and from thence in a straight Line over the said Piece, and the one hundred Acre Droveway, by the South End of Lady Downing's Forty Acres, to the Bridge called Cow Bridge ; and so directly across Swaffham Bulbed Common to the Ditch at the Corner of the Abbey Closes by the Fen Gate; and then along the said Ditch or Run of Water to the Croyl Gate; and so by the said Run of Water, under the Skirts of the Highland, to Low Bridge Hole , at the Bottom of Swaffham Prior Town; and from thence, crossing the Whiteway Droveway, along the Ditch at the South and of Low Bridge Hole Dolver to the Driest Droveway; and then by the Ditch or Run of Water at the Bottom of Master Allix's Meadow and along the Skirts of the Cake's and other High Lands, to the Skirts of the Hardlands of Swaffham Prior Ditch Field; and then along the Skirts of the Hardlands at the Edge of the said Field to the End of Reach Town next the Fen; and so by the Point of the Dock to an ancient Sewer called Reach Old Load ; and then along the said Sewer to a certain Place called Powt Hall ; and from thence along the present navigable Cut, called Burwell New Road , to the East Bank of the River Cam, otherwise Grant ; and by the said Bank to the Ferry Place at Clayhithe aforesaid; have for several Years past been, and still are, commonly overflowed with Waters, through the Defect of their Outfalls to the Sea, by which Means the said Fen Lands and Low Grounds are rendered of little or no Value, to the Loss of the Publick, as well as the great Damage and Impoverishment of the Owners of such Lands, and of the Inhabitants of the several Parishes and Places where the same do lie: And whereas the said Fen Lands and Low Grounds cannot be drained and preserved without the Aid of Parliament; Therefore, to the End the said Fen Lands and Low Grounds may be drained, improved, and preserved, May it 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 Authorityof the same, That the Lord or Lords, Lady or Ladies, of the several and respective Manors ofFen Ditton with Horningsea, Stow with Quoi, Anglesea in Bottisham, and Mitchell Hall in Swaffham Bulbed , for the time being, or in his, her, or their Absence, their several respective Deputies appointed by Writing under their respective Hands; an Agent appointed by the Dean and Chapter of Ely under their Common Seal; two Persons, being Owners or Occupiers of Lands or Common Rights in each of the Parishes of Fen Ditton, Horningsea , and Quoi; three Persons, being Owners or Occupiers of Lands or Common Rights in each of the Parishes of Bottisham and Swaffham Bulbed ; and five Persons, being Owners or Occupiers of Lands in the Township of Swaffham Prior , hereby nominated and to be chosen as herein afterwards directed, shall be Commissioners for putting this Act, and all the Powers and Authorities herein after contained, in Execution.
II First Commissioners.
II. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, ThatSoame Jenyns Esquire, and William Curtis Gentleman, shall be the first Commissioners for the said Parish of Fen Ditton ; that Jonathan Fison and John Cockle Gentleman, shall be the first Commissioners for the said Parish of Horningsea; that Thomas Graves and Thomas Muggleton Gentlemen, shall be the first Commissioners for the said Parish of Quoi ; that Charles Gould Esquire, Thomas Newman , and Thomas Dennis , Gentlemen, shall be the first Commissioners for the said Parish of Bottisham; that Peacock Rickard, Thomas Appleyard , and Edmund Beeten , Gentlemen shall be the first Commissioners for the said Parish of Swaffham Bulbed ; and that William Ingle and Charles Allix Esquires. William Collier Clerk, Richard Eaton , and William Poulton , Gentlemen, shall be the first Commissioners for the said Township of Swaffham Prior : And that the said Persons shall continue Commissioners in respect of Lands lying in the said Township and Parishes respectively, until the first Wednesday in April, which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine; and that all such Persons as shall be, bona fide , seised or possessed of five Acres of Land, or One Common Right, taxed by virtue of this Act, all and may meet in the Churches of their respective Towns, upon the first Wednesday in April , one thousand seven hundred and sixty-nine, and upon the first Wednesday in April in every second succeeding Year; and shall and may chuse, as they, or the major Part of them, so met and there present, can agree, the same Number of Owners or Occupiers of Land, or Common Rights, in the Township or Parish in respect whereof they shall be so chosen as herein before mentioned, to be Commissioners, together with the other Persons above described, for putting this Act in Execution; and in case Neglect or Default shall be made in the chusing as aforesaid such Persons qualified as herein after mentioned to be Commissioners in respect of the said Township, or either of the said Parishes, that then the Persons who were Commissioners in respect of the said Township, Parish or Parishes, where such NeglecT or Default shall happen in the preceding Year, shall continue Commissioners, in respect of the same, until other Commissioners shall be chosen as aforesaid in respect thereof upon the first Wednesday in April in the next or some succeeding Second Year; and in care only Part of such Number of Owners or Occupiers, as is above directed to be chosen in respect of the said Township, or either of the said Parishes, shall be so chosen, then it shall be lawful for the Owners or Occupiers who were Commissioners in the...
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