Common Rights.
 
In Heyshott many of the properties have common rights; usually these rights exist where there is common ground which joins or surrounds the properties. The person owning a property may have the right to graze a horse, cows or goats. The number is laid down in the registration of common rights at the County Hall at Chichester.
 
In days gone by, it is probable that most cottages [if not all of them] had common rights. Sheep were kept on the Parish Down until the late 1940's by farmers. On the common land about the village there were rights to cut bracken, turf and firewood, and to graze cattle and other animals on the grass.
 
Due to the old houses falling into decay, the building of new ones and subdivision of properties, some rights lapsed through non-usage, and only now can we find which properties had these rights in old leases which may still exist.
 
In 1967 an Act was passed requiring all who claimed common rights [all over England] to register their claims - the object was to find which rights still existed and who owned various common and vacant pieces of land.
 
Many of the common rights in Heyshott have been lost. Four tenants have applied for registration in Heyshott. the land owners - Cowdray trust Ltd., and the Dickenson Trust Ltd. oppose these rights as a matter of form. The question of validity of claims will be settled by a court sitting when they are discussed, this has not come about since June 1968. when application was made, at the time of writing, June 1976.
 
The following are some of the common rights which have been provisionally registered only.
On the common in the 'Heather View' area :-
 
      To graze 1 horse, 2 cows and 6 goats.
 
      To collect and take wood.
 
      To cut and take bracken over the whole of the land comprised in the registration unit.
 
      To cut and take brushwood not exceeding 4" in diameter.
 
In Hoyle Lane near the Ambersham cross-roads there are common rights to graze 10 sheep and 3 other cattle, also to cut out, and dig and take turf, as well as to take firewood over all the land comprised in the registration unit.
 
The upper green about the Church and the Unicorn Inn, common rights are claimed to graze some 20 cows.
 
Lord Cowdray, as lord of the Manor owns all the common and verges in Heyshott, The verges are what is called or known as Manorial Waste

 
Land which is known as Pitch Place on the east side of Hoyle Lane, opposite Midland Copse, is such a piece of land and Parliament will decide if it is to be looked after by the County Council, or the Parish Council.
 
Any claims to common rights not registered under the Act are now deemed to have lapsed and no new claims can be made.
 
Because there are only three claimants who have title deeds which include claims of common rights on the Down, Unenclosed heather common and wayside verges, Lord Cowdray has agreed to the registration of these.