What is common land?

Author: Leandro Alegsa

Q: What is common land?


A: Common land is land where local people have certain rights, such as grazing livestock, collecting firewood or cutting turf for fuel.

Q: What was the common originally used for in mediaeval England?


A: Originally, the common was part of the manor and tenants had certain rights to it.

Q: Who owned the common in mediaeval England?


A: Although the common was part of the estate owned by the lord of the manor, tenants had certain rights to it.

Q: How has the term "commons" extended over time?


A: By extension, the term "commons" has come to be applied to other resources which a community has rights or access to.

Q: What is the term "common" mainly used for today?


A: Today, the term "common" is mainly used for the land over which certain rights are exercised.

Q: What is a commoner?


A: A person who has a right to common land is a commoner.

Q: Do commons still exist today?


A: Yes, commons still exist today in Great Britain and the United States, although their extent is much reduced from the millions of acres that existed in the 17th century.


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