England: 5,245 Acts of Parliament

England: 5,245 Acts of Parliament

From The History of Fresh Produce by The Produce Industry Network

July 21, 2026 · 24 min · Episode 187

About this episode

The episode explores the historical significance of the Enclosure Acts in England and their impact on the peasantry and landscape.

Why did Parliament pass 5,245 individual Acts to enclose 6.8 million acres of English common land — and why does almost nobody in England know it happened? Who were the people who lost the right of pannage, turbary, and estovers, and what does it mean that the hedged fields every English person loves as the quintessential English countryside are the direct product of the legislation that destroyed the English peasantry? And how do the Enclosure Acts, Kett's Rebellion, the Swing Riots, and the Premier League turn out to be the same story told two centuries apart? Join John and Patrick as they tell the story of England and the commons — the open fields, the Parliamentary robbery, and the hedge that made the view beautiful by ending a way of life... ---------- In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business ----------- Join the History of Fresh Produce Club for ad-free listening, bonus episodes, book discounts and access to an exclusive chatroom community. Support us! Share this episode with your friends Give a 5-star rating Write a review ----------- Subscribe to our biweekly newsletter here for extra stories related to recent episodes, book…

People in this episode

Hosts: John, Patrick

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Sponsors

Cornell University, Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Premier League

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