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Who Owns England?

Guy Shrubsole

4.36 · Rating details · 122 ratings · 22 reviews

'A formidable, brave and important book' Robert Macfarlane

Who owns England?

Behind this simple question lies this country's oldest and best-kept secret. This is the history of how England's elite came to own our land, and an inspiring manifesto for how to open up our countryside once more.

This book has been a long time coming. Since 1086, in fact. For centuries, England's ...more

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Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published May 2nd 2019 by William Collins

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Jan 26, 2020 Fiona rated it liked it

Shelves: politics, netgalley, e-books

This book appealed to me because I had read and thoroughly enjoyed The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland. It was probably only a matter of time before someone looked to the rest of Great Britain. Guy Shrubsole’s writing style is less formal than Wightman’s. He writes in what I would term Sunday supplement style, ie chatty and easy to read, not too taxing.

Shrubsole looks at major landowners in turn - the Church, the Crown, the aristocracy, the MOD, nature and land conservation agencies, and This book appealed to me because I had read and thoroughly enjoyed The Poor Had No Lawyers: Who Owns Scotland. It was probably only a matter of time before someone looked to the rest of Great Britain. Guy Shrubsole’s writing style is less formal than Wightman’s. He writes in what I would term Sunday supplement style, ie chatty and easy to read, not too taxing.

Shrubsole looks at major landowners in turn - the Church, the Crown, the aristocracy, the MOD, nature and land conservation agencies, and so on. Little of what I read was news to me. The most interesting chapter by far concentrates on land held in trust by bodies committed to protecting and conserving our wild spaces and species. I didn’t know that the financier Charles Rothschild is responsible for introducing the concept of the nature reserve of which there are now 2,300 across England and Wales. He is owed a huge debt of gratitude in that respect.

The book ends with an agenda for English land reform (Wales drifts in and out of being included in his agenda) in which Shrubsole sets out 10 aims ranging from, to select a few in no particular order, ending the secrecy around land ownership in England, to fixing the housing crisis, the farming system (other than the beneficiaries, no one can surely support the continuation of the scandalous subsidies handed out to wealthy landowners for doing nowt), restoring nature’s abundance, curbing corporate use of land as an asset, to the introduction of open access to match that in Scotland. The Right to Roam is well established in Scotland and there are few areas that are not open access for all. In England and Wales, however, despite new access laws introduced in 2000, astonishingly only 10% of land is open access and the percentage diminishes the further south you travel. In general, Shrubsole’s agenda is impressive and heartfelt but sadly it’s not realistic.

This is a fairly short book, dense with references and statistics at times, and the writing style wasn’t to my taste. 40% of the book consists of the appendices and reference notes at the end. I read the ebook, however, and enjoyed following the links to various websites for more information. 3 stars because it’s a good effort but it doesn’t stand comparison with Andy Wightman’s work, in my opinion.

...more

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May 02, 2019 Lou rated it it was amazing

Having thoroughly enjoyed the land law module of my law degree well over a decade ago due to its complexities and nuances I was eager to learn more about this fascinating area, and this book seemed like the ideal opportunity to do so. Guy Shrubsole uncovers how for centuries the wealthy have undertaken nefarious acts in order to get their hands on the land they desired. Open your mind to the fact that by changing how land ownership operates we can begin to address some of the crises of our time: ...more

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Sep 17, 2019 Tariq Mahmood rated it it was amazing

A fascinating read, who actually owns England? From the aristocracy to the offshore corporations based in tax havens who are involved in land banking, I didn't know who to despise more. But what really offended me were the agricultural subsidies given to big states. I mean I am a mere tenant of a tiny house who has to PAY the council hundreds of pounds every year while these landed states are getting hundreds of thousands of subsidies instead. Why have they not been taxed like the rest of us ...more

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Oct 09, 2019 Paul rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-2019

The question, who owns England? is such a simple question. And yet the answer to this is one of our country’s oldest and best-kept secrets. And the keepers of those secrets? Our ancient aristocracy and elite, who between them own vast swathes of our land. So much so, that only 1% (yes one per cent) of the population of the country owns 50% of the land. The Land Registry only knows for definite around 83% of the actual owners of the land of England.

To understand how we are in this situation you The question, who owns England? is such a simple question. And yet the answer to this is one of our country’s oldest and best-kept secrets. And the keepers of those secrets? Our ancient aristocracy and elite, who between them own vast swathes of our land. So much so, that only 1% (yes one per cent) of the population of the country owns 50% of the land. The Land Registry only knows for definite around 83% of the actual owners of the land of England.

To understand how we are in this situation you have to head back in our history nearly 1000 years, to the time when William the Bastard became William the Conqueror. His victory over Harold allowed him to have the largest land grab and to reward favourite people in his court with lands and property. He commissioned the Doomsday report, to ensure that he hadn’t missed any land that could be of some benefit to the crown.

Some of the descendants of those people granted land by William still own it.

The Crown owns large tracts, as you’d expect and pays tax on the income from those lands. However, it uses its two Duchy’s (Cornwall and Lancaster) to ensure that it isn’t paying tax on other vast swathes of land it has spread all around the country. A lot of land is owned by organisations like the National Trust, the Forestry Commission, the Church owns a lot too, but not as much as they used to, plus other big businesses now own substantial amounts. However, most of the elite and aristocracy don’t want people knowing how much land they have nor do they want you to know how much they are able to claim in benefits from it. They have built walls, moved villages and used the enclosure acts to steal the common land for their own use. All to stop us discovering exactly how much they own.

They now use modern tools to hide their assets away from us and the taxman, so he discovers that lots of land is now owned by shell companies based in tax havens. But the same tools that enable them to do this, can be used to answer the question posed; who owns England? Guy Shrubsole has spent lots of time exploring some of the vast estates and tramping over moors and entering empty Mayfair mansions as well as using the modern tools of digital mapping to answer this question.

This book is his expose of the truths of land ownership and what we can do to wrestle back control of this very limited asset. He has a lot of sensible suggestions on how we can ensure that this tiny elite are no longer the sole beneficiaries of the wealth and power that is derived from land. This struggle will be a long and tedious one as these people will not want to give up land that they have held for time immemorial. He is impassioned about this subject and writes in a very clear way with very well thought out solutions to solve the problem. As you read it you can sense his fury that in the modern age this is still an issue.

It is a must-read for anyone remotely interested in our countryside and landscapes and a call to virtual arms to apply the pressure needed to change the system for the better. ...more

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Dec 13, 2019 Sophy H rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fabulous-favourites, outdoor-nature

I had been waiting to read this for some time, and in a telling manner, so has most of the general public (there has been a waiting list for reservation of this book from my local library for months!!)

As I already suspected before reading, the rich toffs with the money and the power and the influence own waayyy more land than they should!!! As Guy Shrubsole points out, since Norman the Conqueror started his fuckery back in 1066, the division and ownership of land has never been the same since. ...more

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Nov 14, 2019 Andrew rated it it was amazing

An incredibly thorough and compelling account of how England's system of hereditary landownership and a landlord class is deeply inequitable (it's the same here in Ireland and many, many other nations). A must read for anyone buried under absurd rent or mortgage payments or anyone concerned about the environment.

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May 26, 2019 Martin Empson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is a really important book. Many on the left, from Karl Marx onward have sought to understand how capitalism developed and what this meant for the land and its people. But who came to own the land as a result of that process has profound consequences for people today. Guy Shrubsole's book is written with humour and anger and offers a viable alternative. It is an essential read and I highly recommend it.

My full review on the blog: http://resolutereader.blogspot.com/20...

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Aug 27, 2019 Kate Vane rated it it was amazing

In Who Owns England, Guy Shrubsole describes how his campaigning interests – from environmental damage on agricultural land to housing shortages in London – led him to wonder who owns the land in England. Getting an answer proved difficult which made him all the more determined to pursue the subject. He and data journalist Anna Powell-Smith have detailed their research on the Who Owns England blog and he expands on the subject in this book.

He begins with the historical context and the Domesday In Who Owns England, Guy Shrubsole describes how his campaigning interests – from environmental damage on agricultural land to housing shortages in London – led him to wonder who owns the land in England. Getting an answer proved difficult which made him all the more determined to pursue the subject. He and data journalist Anna Powell-Smith have detailed their research on the Who Owns England blog and he expands on the subject in this book.

He begins with the historical context and the Domesday Book, in which William the Conqueror compiled an inventory of the country he had conquered. Significant land holdings were giving to those who had helped him achieve power and their heirs.

Shrubsole estimates that 30% of all England’s land is still owned by the aristocracy and gentry. The 6th Duke of Westminster at least had the grace to admit that he hadn’t become Britain’s biggest landowner by the sweat of his brow. When asked what advice he would give to young entrepreneurs, the billionaire said, “Make sure they have an ancestor who was a very close friend of William the Conqueror”. When he died he passed his entire estate to his then 25-year-old son who is currently the subject of a campaign by activists.

Shrubsole’s analysis shows how land that has been taken over generations, by conquest, by forced enclosure, by repression, continues to be protected by complicit (or cowed) governments, and that, despite the public perception that the gentry has fallen into decay and handed it all over to the National Trust, many of them are doing very nicely.

Then there is publicly owned land, which could be used for the public good, but is being steadily sold off, either by a central government with an ideological agenda, or local authorities desperate for cash. There are the landownings of the royal family and the Crown and the church. There is land owned by wealthy individuals and corporations, including pension funds.

Land is a uniquely valuable asset. Shrubsole quotes Mark Twain: “they aren’t making it any more”. Landowners can also experience gains in value through the action of others — for example if new transport infrastructure is built nearby. However, these qualities are not recognised in the tax system. Instead, landowners receive additional benefits.

Many receive agricultural subsidies which are paid simply for owning land (including environmentally damaging grouse moors), with no obligation to benefit taxpayers or the environment. They can use trusts and offshore ownership arrangements to avoid taxation or scrutiny (sometimes while also receiving subsidies). Properties in high-demand areas such as central London are left empty, treated as ‘investments’, and complicated ownership arrangements mean they may be bought with laundered money.

There is an impressive amount of research and information in Who Owns England, presented in an accessible way. Shrubsole gives an insight into the work that he and others have done to unearth this knowledge, and explains what they have been unable to find out.

He brings the material alive with examples and anecdotes, beginning with his childhood memories of West Berkshire, an apparently affluent, leafy county, but one riven by divisions by the Greenham Common airbase, and the Newbury bypass. Both spurred iconic protests and both are, in a sense, about land and who owns and controls it. Newbury MP and former environment minister Richard Benyon is also a wealthy landowner.

It’s easy to despair but what I love about this book is that Shrubsole is angry but also positive and determined. His final chapter is an agenda for English land reform, a series of proposals to make land ownership more open, fair, and widely distributed.

Read more of my reviews on my blog katevane.com/blog ...more

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Jun 09, 2019 Herwin Tros rated it it was amazing

Shrubsole tells the story over ownership of Englands soil that was totally unknown to me. It gives a - by times - shocking insight in how the country functions (or dysfunctions if you will) on the terrain of housing, farming, roaming, etc. Also it gives insight in the inheritance of feudalism a mere 1000 years after William the Conqueror 'made' England. There hasn't been much change... Shrubsole gives hope en guidance, maybe a little too much in the way of a dreamer, but, maybe it is necessary ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 Daniel Lambauer rated it really liked it

A good book that is an easy ready even though it took me longer to reas than I would have liked. Becomes a bit repetitive in parts, but has good thoughts on land reform and argues convincingly why this is such an urgent topic to tackle...

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May 14, 2019 Hannah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley, non-fiction, read-in-2019, social-history

Land reform is something I hadn't given much thought to before, but Guy Shrubsole really won me over with this book.

Guy's passion for the environment and social justice fuels this polemic; through each chapter he covers another type of land ownership, from the aristocracy, to the state, to the Anglican Church, to corporate entities. Until I read this book, I'd never considered how who owns land can affect climate change, biodiversity, economic inequality, the welfare state, or our own freedoms. ...more

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Sep 30, 2019 Simon Mcleish rated it liked it

As an analysis of land ownership in England, it delivers what the title promises. Driven by righteous anger at the exclusivity and secrecy of England's land ownership, it is passionate but can feel a bit like being hit repeatedly over the head with a blunt instrument.

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Mar 04, 2019 Bettie marked it as maybe

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Sep 07, 2019 Willy Marz Thiessam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: england, geography, history, political-economy, politics, britain

Great book. Its more of a discussion paper though rather than rough and refined statistics. Here are some notes I've added to his chart that can be found on page 267:

Crown - 1.4% - hard to gage the true extent as much of it is interspered with relatives, and personal ownership. Most environmental initiatives and legislation affecting land are controled to some extent through royal rights to the seabeds and to their rights to influence government policy that might affect their holdings. The Great book. Its more of a discussion paper though rather than rough and refined statistics. Here are some notes I've added to his chart that can be found on page 267:

Crown - 1.4% - hard to gage the true extent as much of it is interspered with relatives, and personal ownership. Most environmental initiatives and legislation affecting land are controled to some extent through royal rights to the seabeds and to their rights to influence government policy that might affect their holdings. The crowns small holding is in effect a central ordering, controlling and leadership of the wider aristocratic holdings. They speak on behalf of the larger aristocrats they are related to over land policy in England.

Aristocracy and Gentry - 30%. Due to the rights of primogeniture and that tens of thousands of "thanes" lost their land to a few hundred of William the Conquerors mates the land had been tightly consolodated for a thousand years. This in turn has been shared between powerful artistocratic families.

Conservation Charities - 2% - often have a controlling influence exerted by their biggest donnors which are usuall aristocrats using the conservation areas to enhance their own neighbouring properties.

Church - .5% - this is tied up with a long history where much may not be known or even controlled by the church itself.

Public Sector - 8.5% - local government owns a good deal but a great amount is controlled and used by the MOD which not only pollutes but also keeps so many secrets its own control over that land is guess work at best.

Companies & LLLPs (Uk and Overseas) - 18% - this is grouped into large holdings by Corporations that own a wide variety of industries and land. Much of it is taken up in speculation and is far from productive as far as it is known. Much of it is kept within interlocking and nested companies which ensure a lack of oversight by the government and the press.

New Money - 17% - This appears to have a lot of nefarious characters associeted with corrupt and brutally oppressive regimes. The oligarchs and members of middle east royal families take up the land partly as a place to escape to should things go south where they are from. While great objection is made to Syrian refugees very little is brought up in press of the vast amounts of land taken up by this or that prince who let the land and property lie mostly vacant.

Homeowners - 5% - this is the tens of millions who live in England.

Total - 82.4%
Unaccounted for - 17% (around) ...more

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Sep 28, 2019 Jilly rated it it was amazing

So much research has gone into this book and it is packed with information. The secrecy of land ownership in England is a fascinating topic, especially when you read about the history of how it was/ wasn't shared out and how it continues to be misused. I found the information regarding common land and glebe land quite a revelation. I love the idea of making more allotments available too. There are so many important points made in this book, I hope it makes a difference. Thank you to Net Galley, ...more

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Jul 15, 2019 Christopher Wickens rated it it was amazing

Eye opening

This book presents a compelling argument that many of society's biggest problems (skyrocketing house prices, inequality, ecological breakdown, pollution, flooding, homelessness, poverty, lack of green space) ultimately are a result of centuries of land theft by the wealthy and subsequent mismanagement of land by governments. At the end is a list of actions that must be enacted in order to take back control of our land. A must read.

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Jul 15, 2019 Sarak77 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is a book everyone in England should read because we really do need to do something about all the tax dodging and scrounging (farm subsidies) of big landowners and the super rich. The author has no problem with ordinary homeowning, which represents a miniscule portion of land ownership and his proposed reforms seem reasonable and long overdue.

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Nov 01, 2019 Tim rated it it was amazing

A fascinating insight into who owns land in England. It an easy read, highlighting the many concerns and downright injustices around land ownership in this country, and shown what could be done to address them.

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Aug 27, 2019 Mark Pedlar rated it it was amazing

An inspiring and comprehensive manifesto.

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Oct 04, 2019 Stephen Tubbs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, britain, social, history

Hard-hitting and let us hope it finds its mark.

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Jul 06, 2019 Nick Sanders rated it really liked it

The facts in themselves were not unknown to me, but the enormity of all those facts and factoids together... An impressive work of financial journalism.

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Jun 21, 2019 Ryan rated it really liked it

Brilliant expose of the current state of land ownership and power structures in Britain, from the Crown to the corporations and everybody in between, and how it's destroyed any chance at social, economic and environmental equality in the UK until there is fundamental reforms... Of exactly the kind that Shrubsole lays out in the final chapter. A necessary book for today's England.

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About Guy Shrubsole

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Guy Shrubsole works as a campaigner for Friends of the Earth and has written for numerous publications including the Guardian and New Statesman. Who Owns England? (2019) is his first book.

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