The Common is roughly 50 hectares in extent, although the boundary with Port Meadow to the south is imprecisely defined by the Shiplake Ditch.

For example, in 1552, George Owen, owner of Wolvercote Manor and the mill, and physician to King Henry VIII, petitioned the King to prevent the Mayor of Oxford from enclosing this area.

[5] In 1892, there was an attempt to reduce Wolvercote Common by a small amount on its southern boundary.

[6] The Commons Registration Act 1965 has affected villagers' rights to the land detrimentally.

[5] Only houses registered at the time of the Act now have grazing rights attached, even if there is a change of ownership.