Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Leah Gordon and Stephen Ellcock’s visual project digs into England’s vanishing commons – once 50% of the land, now barely 3%. Through Gordon’s photography, art, and folk traditions, they trace centuries of enclosure and fierce resistance, from Levellers to rave protesters to modern land rights movements."
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A event held at Bookhaus on Tuesday 4th November. The event starts at 18:00.
IN 1600, 50% OF ENGLAND WAS COMMON LAND.
IT’S NOW 3%.
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW THAT HAPPENED.
This is a visual journey through the history of the enclosure of common land in England and the stories of those who have attempted to resist. Richly illustrated with Leah Gordon’s photography alongside fine art and folk customs past and present, discover:
· A timeline of this centuries-long struggle for access to the land.
· The stories of rural resistance such as the Levellers, the Diggers, the Luddites and Captain Swing.
· The links between the struggles of the industrial working-class and the peasants.
· Contemporary conflicts around land rights, such as the New Age travellers and rave scene, the anti-road campaign and the Right to Roam movement.
Common People offers a reimagining of English history told by the people themselves, giving voice to the silenced history of the enclosures and the incredible visual creativity inspired by rural resistance and protest.
Leah will be here to discuss this remarkable visual project. They will be in conversation with Andy Thatcher. Tickets cost £7 and include a glass of wine or a soft drink and £5 off the book. Presented by bookhaus in association with Centre for Environmental Humanities, University of Bristol.
Leah Gordon is an artist, curator and writer. Her film and photographic work has been exhibited internationally including at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; the Dak’art Biennale; the National Portrait Gallery, UK and MOCA, Miami, Florida.
Andy Thatcher has worked with conservation charities, shown his films internationally, has several academic publications on folk horror due for 2026 and his PhD at the University of Bristol's Film and TV department explores English common land's complex meanings and ways of representing these audiovisually. Andy was quite literally born on Farnborough Common and commons have provided a background for most of his life, most recently attending the university's 5-yearly grazing of sheep at Clifton and Durdham Downs.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
IT’S NOW 3%.
THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW THAT HAPPENED.
This is a visual journey through the history of the enclosure of common land in England and the stories of those who have attempted to resist. Richly illustrated with Leah Gordon’s photography alongside fine art and folk customs past and present, discover:
· A timeline of this centuries-long struggle for access to the land.
· The stories of rural resistance such as the Levellers, the Diggers, the Luddites and Captain Swing.
· The links between the struggles of the industrial working-class and the peasants.
· Contemporary conflicts around land rights, such as the New Age travellers and rave scene, the anti-road campaign and the Right to Roam movement.
Common People offers a reimagining of English history told by the people themselves, giving voice to the silenced history of the enclosures and the incredible visual creativity inspired by rural resistance and protest.
Leah will be here to discuss this remarkable visual project. They will be in conversation with Andy Thatcher. Tickets cost £7 and include a glass of wine or a soft drink and £5 off the book. Presented by bookhaus in association with Centre for Environmental Humanities, University of Bristol.
Leah Gordon is an artist, curator and writer. Her film and photographic work has been exhibited internationally including at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; the Dak’art Biennale; the National Portrait Gallery, UK and MOCA, Miami, Florida.
Andy Thatcher has worked with conservation charities, shown his films internationally, has several academic publications on folk horror due for 2026 and his PhD at the University of Bristol's Film and TV department explores English common land's complex meanings and ways of representing these audiovisually. Andy was quite literally born on Farnborough Common and commons have provided a background for most of his life, most recently attending the university's 5-yearly grazing of sheep at Clifton and Durdham Downs.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
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