BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.

2,000 years ago, a patch of land in the Northumberland countryside, grass, trees, a little

stream, a couple of peasants grow in turnips. The Romans come, the Saxons, but not much

changes here. William the Conqueror comes and says the whole country belongs to him, divides it all up amongst his men, but not this bit, it stays common land.

Until 400 years ago. A man comes along on a horse and the peasants, not the same ones obviously, it's 1600 years later, they're told to bugger off, because some gentlemen did a deal.

Shook hands on a room and signed a bit of paper,

something about the enclosure acts.

And now this bit of land belongs to...

The 5th Earl of Rothbury.

Who knows what happens to the peasants?

Maybe they make it to Bambra, or maybe the freeze to death on the way. History doesn't record those stories.

Fast forward today. Now it's mainly concrete. A little semi-detached house, paved garden, privy hedge.

The family owns the house, but the land is still owned by the Earl of Rothbury. The family has to pay him

to live there. And what does he do for that money? Absolutely sweet F.A. Nearly a third of this

country is still owned by the aristocracy. Thanks to a favour, pulled by his ancestor, the money

trickles in and all the Earl has to do is sit on his landed house.

Just like he's doing right now.

In a windowless room, sipping sparkling mineral water and wondering if he'll get out of here alive.

The 13th Earl of Rothbury.

Bainter rights at last.

Better late than never. The system.

Or how to save the world in five easy steps.

...