Journey 4
William Cobbett
Beaulieu
Why were pigs more numerous in Cobbett’s day?
The New Forest still operates the ancient principle of Commoner’s Rights.
Cobbett felt these rights – to shared grazing land for cows, ponies and especially
pigs – was essential for a healthy agricultural economy.
Pigs were everywhere in Cobbett’s day. He describes the ruins of a chapel near Beaulieu as overrun with sow, and waxed lyrical about their importance to “tradition, neighbourliness and good living in community”. Pigs, he believed, would save the working class.
Sadly, it’s not a sight often seen today.
Nowadays pigs are kept by only 10 of the 350 people who still have commoner’s rights in the New Forest. The cost now outweighs he benefits Cobbett saw.
Despite this, the fact these rights have been retained preserves something of pre-enclosure England – and that’s priceless.