Enclosure Movement

The Enclosure Movement was a historical process in England during the 18th and 19th centuries where common lands, previously shared by local communities for farming and grazing, were transformed into privately owned parcels. Wealthy landowners enclosed these lands with fences or hedges to increase agricultural productivity and profits. This led to the displacement of many rural workers who relied on common land for their livelihood, prompting urban migration and contributing to the Industrial Revolution. The movement significantly changed land use, social structures, and economic practices in rural England.