THE BCH ARCHIVE
LOCAL HISTORY FOR
BIRTSMORTON
CASTLEMORTON
HOLLYBUSH
And The Surrounding District
CASTLEMORTON COMMON GUIDEBOOK
6. The Commoners Association
In 1964 the Malvern Hills Conservators took over the
manorlal rights to the common from the Church
Commissioners. The Commoners Association was formed
because there was a certain amount of feeling generated
between some of the commoners, who thought that the HHC
might try to interfere with their rights, and some of
the members of the HHC board, who perhaps felt that
some of the commoners were simply dog-in-the-manger
troublemakerss! In fact nearly all the problems turned
out to be imagined rather than real, and gradually the
situation has improved, to the point where the annual
meetings between the HHC. the local Parish Council and
the Commons Association Committee, are now very
cordial, and always include a jolly session in the
Robin Hood afterwards!
There have been occasions when the Association has been
involved in legal matters, for instance at the
Registration hearings, when valuable assistance was
given by Hr P Davis of Foster and Finlay but today it
serves as mainly a social organisation, arranging Barn
Dances. etc. and an Annual Gymkhana and Shindig which
actually takes place on the common, alongside the soccer
pitch at Hollybed.
In recent years. in view of the [act that the number of
people actually exercising their common rights has
declined, and the number of visitors to the common has
increased, the Association has been ‘re-styled‘ to
reflect the modern situation. It was decided to change
the name to the Castlemorton Cannon Association. so
that anybody interested in the common may become a
member even if they do not have common rights.
The present structure of the Association is shown
below:
A OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION
1 To safeguard the future and identity of the Common
as s working common.
2 To support the "Commoners' in exercising their
legal rights, where these have been registered and
established.
3 To keep a fair balance between the justifiahie
interests of the Commoners and such feasible leisure
pursuits as may to-exist with these interests.
4 To encourage social opportunities for people in the
association by meetings and other gatherings.
5 To seek constructive co-operation with the Malvcrn
Hills Conservators for the mutual benefit of both
parties.
B MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION
Membership is primarily open to anyone having Common
Rights, ie defined in this context as residing. owning
or renting land in the Three Parishes. Others may make
application to the Secretary or to any Committee Member
for membership, which application would be voted upon
at the next meeting.
C COMMITTEE
The Committee Hill consist of nine Members, five of
them having CoImoners' Rights, but not all nine places
need necessarily be filled.
The Original Committee were all local commoners, their
names are Hell represented in the history of the area,
and they are still respected as names which keep the
area well rooted in the spirit of the common, so that
the knowledge of the area is passed on.
ORIGINAL COMMITTEE
A Baldwin Hay Cottage
R Bunn Hunters Hall
M Jakeman The Cottage
R Lloyd Morton Green Farm
F Meats The Joyfield
D Preece Fair Oaks Farm
H Weaver Mount Pleasant
By Med Snookes
A handbook for Locals and Visitors