Which is the largest Common In Hampshire?

Yateley Common is by far the largest registered common in Hampshire. Registration unit CL24 is half as big again as the next largest common (Unit CL57 Martin Down 321 ha). Martin Down is chalk downland between Breamore Down and Cranborne Chase in the far west of Hampshire. Yateley Common is over twice the size of the third largest common unit in Hampshire (Unit CL101 Ludshott Common 219 ha).

To put this in perspective there is only one registered common unit in Surrey large than Yateley Common CL24 but at 1,165 ha it is considerably large than Yateley Common (Surrey CL196 The Hurtwood).

It should also be noted that the New Forest was exempted from the Commons Registration Act 1965, so Yateley Common only holds its no.1 position in Hampshire provided the New Forect is excluded.

It is also necessary to state that there are a number of registered units which are known as 'continguous commons'. The units of Hazeley Heath are an example. There are 80 commons in Hampshire which can be built up into much larger tracts of land. I have not attempted to do this, but I still believe Yateley Common will remain the largest.

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