MUSHROOM RIGHTS

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3555, 8 December 1934, Page 11

MUSHROOM RIGHTS

"WAR" IN A VILLAGE. ANCIENT PRIVILEGES CLAIMED A mushroom "war" has been raging in the historic little Somerset village of Montacute, where in the face of determined opposition by local farmers; the parishioners are claiming the right to go and gather the tender, succulent fungi just when and where they choose. Montacute, so tradition says, owes its origin to King Canute, although history suggests that he was more interested in sea bathing than mushrooms. The local people are basing their claim to free mushrooms on the assertion that their forbears exercised the right to gather them from times immemorial. The trouble began when the parish clerk, Mr. Reginald Taunton, and his brother were prosecuted by a farmer and convicted of stealing mushrooms- by picking them.

Indignant discussions among the villagers followed, and, as a result, Mr. William Ingfett agreed to act as their representative and go and pick mushrooms in a certain field "to establish the right." He did so. Mr. Ernest P. Taylor, of Windmill Farm, the owner of the field, prosecuted 1 him, and Mr. Inglett was called upon to justify his action before the magistrates. Defendant declared that for a period of more than 10 years mushrooms had been picked in this particular field, and that no mushroom spawn had ever been placed in it. His statements, he said, would be supported by every man, woman and child in the village. For the prosecution it was said that mushrooms were cultivated on the farm, 13471 b having been sold last season. In the course of the hearing of the case a large number of Montacute residents who were in court became restive, and when one shouted, "I have no patience to, sit here ,and listen to all these lies," the Bench had the court cleared. The Bench decided to convict, but postponed sentence until a later date. After the proceedings several villagers asserted their determination to continue picking mushrooms in the fields as their fathers and grandfathers had done before them.