Inclosure Acts

The Inclosure Acts were a series of laws in Britain primarily during the 18th and 19th centuries that allowed common land and open fields to be fenced off and designated for private farming. This process transformed common land into privately owned, enclosed plots, often leading to increased agricultural productivity. While it benefited landowners, it also displaced many small farmers and commoners who relied on open land for grazing and livelihood. The acts played a significant role in the Agricultural Revolution, shaping modern land use and rural landscapes in Britain.