Introduction

If you have read any other school textbooks about the Agricultural. Revolution, you will probably have read accounts which go more or less like Source 1; which is a starting-point for our studies.

After you have studied this webpage, answer the question sheet by clicking on the 'Time to Work' icon at the top of the page.

Links:

The following websites will help you research further:

The Agricultural Revolution:

• A traditional account on YouTube.

• Effects of enclosure – textbook quotes. 

• The Enclosure Game

1  New Ways of Farming

Farmers began to use machinery.  In 1701 Jethro Tull invented a seed-drill.  It sowed the seeds in rows under the soil, so farmers could abandon the old, wasteful way of sowing broadcast (by hand).  Later, Tull invented a horse-hoe to weed the crops.  Other farm machinery was invented, including threshing and winnowing machines, and a reaping machine (in 1826), which were faster and more efficient than the old ways.  In 1856 John Fowler of Leeds invented a steam plough, which took the back-breaking labour out of ploughing with horses or oxen, which had changed little in centuries.

New methods of growing crops were introduced.  'Turnip' Townshend, from Norfolk, developed the Norfolk Four-Course rotation.  This was a four-year crop rotation, with wheat, turnips, barley and clover being planted in turn.  No land was wasted, because no land was left fallow.  Clover and turnips are fodder crops, which could be fed to the animals during the winter months.  This meant that the animals could put on more weight and give more meat.

Improvements were also made in animal breeding. Robert Bakewell from Leicestershire produced better sheep by making sure that only the best animals were used for breeding.  This is called selective breeding.  Bakewell rented out his rams to other farmers, so they too could breed better animals.

These new methods of farming could not be practised on the old Open Fields, so large areas of land were enclosed.  Millions of acres were fenced in.  Farming became more efficient.

Introduction (continued)

Enclosure

During the eighteenth century, many villages applied to Parliament for an Act of Enclosure (see Source 2).  Men called Enclosure Commissioners were appointed, who re-drew the map of the village, putting each landowner's land together into one farm.  The landowners could then divide up their farm into fields as they wanted.

The Commissioners swore an oath:

I do swear that I will faithfully, fairly and honestly, according to the best of my skill, [divide the land] without favour or affection to any persons whatsoever.

Do you believe it?  Until recently, many historians did not.  They thought that the Commissioners helped the rich landowners to swindle the poor out of their land.  Modem historians, however, believe that the Commissioners WERE fair.

The problem with enclosure was that, even though it was fair and legal, it still damaged the poor farmers.  People lost their land if they did not have documents which proved their legal right to their land.  Squatters were turned off the Common.  Most of all, the high cost of getting the Act, paying the Commissioner and fencing the land after the enclosure usually ruined poor farmers.  They had to sell their new farms to the rich landowners.

2  Applying for an Act of Enclosure