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Two hundred years ago, on 1 May 1826, the lammas lands of Eton and Eton Wick were saved for the people. These commons extend between the two settlements in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. In 1826 the then lord of the manor, John Penn, who had already inclosed his land in Stoke Poges, presented an inclosure bill to parliament. Over 180 villagers signed or made their mark on a petition to parliament.
Fortunately, John Penn made a fatal mistake, he failed to consult the crown which led to its officers opposing the bill. The crown’s opposition caused Eton College, a major local landowner, also to oppose it. Thus the bill was defeated by a majority of 173, known as The Glorious Majority.
On 4 May this year the residents of Eton and Eton Wick celebrated the bicentenary with a fête on the recreation ground at Eton. Information boards, telling the story, were unveiled. Our general secretary spoke for the Open Spaces Society which was founded 40 years after this great victory. She said that the people of Eton and Eton Wick had set a fine example, and the society continues to fight the inclosure of commons to this day.