Description:In 1804 freeholders in Tittensor complained to the Marquis of Stafford’s estate agents about the increase of rabbits on Tittensor Heath.
Tittensor Heath was common ground used by many freeholders in Tittensor for feeding and grazing their sheep. However, the increasing number of rabbits had caused damage to their holdings forced many to reduce the size of their flocks.
Many freeholders blamed John Jervis, Lord of the Manor of Tittensor who introduced the burrows in the seventeenth century and caused extensive damage to the freeholders’ common land. Since then, the number of rabbits had almost tripled and the freeholders were forced to take action.
Was Jervis to blame? Would the freeholders be compensated? Where had all the rabbits come from?
Click on the images on the left to learn more about this fascinating case.