BattlefieldsEnclosure Riot — Malvern Chase 1631
English Civil War

Enclosure Riot — Malvern Chase 1631

1631
England
Era
English Civil War
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Crown forest officials
Forces
Crown forest officials
VS
Victor
Malvern Chase commoners
Forces
Malvern Chase commoners
Outcome
Enclosures pulled down; forest officers assaulted; Star Chamber prosecutions; ringleaders fined; disafforestation delayed
The Battle

History & Significance

Malvern Chase in Worcestershire and Herefordshire saw serious rioting in 1631 when crown disafforestation provoked resistance from forest commoners. Large crowds pulled down enclosure fences, assaulted forest officers and threatened the new lessees. The Malvern Chase riots were prosecuted in Star Chamber, which imposed heavy fines on the ringleaders. The disturbances illustrated the breadth of forest riot across England in the early 1630s.

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