The Barbed Wire Act 1893 (56 & 57 Vict.

c. 32) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It provided that where barbed wire was placed adjoining a highway in such a manner as to pose a danger to people or animals using the highway, then the local authority was empowered to demand its removal; if the owner of the wire failed to remove it, the council could apply for a court order, and if this failed it was empowered to remove the wire and charge any expenses to the owner.

[1] The Act has since been repealed by the Highways Act 1959 (7 & 8 Eliz.

[2] Similar provisions are now included in section 164 of the Highways Act 1980.