‘abstract’:”,’author_name’:”,’publisher’:”,’place_of_publication’:”,’format’:’Identity card’,’class_number’:”,’subject’:”,’period_covered’:”,’year_of_publication’:”,’creator’:”,’accession_number’:”
Contributor: Kath Walker
New Forest Documents A.D.1244 – A.D. 1334
Review by Peter Roberts
This book was the first of two similar titles edited by the late David Stagg. Published in 1979, it is the third volume in the Hampshire Record Series produced by Hampshire Country Council. As stated by its title it consists of translations of New Forest documents from the medieval period, in particular those originating from the Forest Courts, mainly those of the Forest Justices but lesser courts also. The documents are placed in context by a full and reliable introduction which, although technical, is a standard work for those considering this period of Forest history. The introduction includes a very full section on Forest Law in general together with a piece concerning the application of common law within the New Forest as the 1257 Forest Eyre considered by Forest and Civil Pleas; it is often stated, incorrectly, that Common Law was not applied within Forests. The Forest Eyre itself is described as might be expected from a book which contains so much derived from that source. The lower forest courts are also considered in detail as are the forests officers. In addition to the Court records are some Accounts, Surveys and Extents which include much interesting information, including that in regard to the operation of Forest Rights at this period and these are both discussed at length in the introduction. Discussion is made regarding the medieval bounds of the Forest which were very much tied up with the politics of the day, though only the ‘large bounds’ are contained within the book itself, the small bounds being published in a number of other locations. What must be borne in mind is that the villages within the Forest area were also considered to form part of the Forest and therefore much material is included on them, the link between the forest wastes and enclosed lands was not lost on the medieval foresters. A useful discussion is also given on material contained in the Pipe Rolls and an index of Forest material from those published by the time David was writing is included as an appendix. While this information may not inspire many people to rush out and find a copy for themselves, those that do will find the main text full of entertaining entries detailing the misdemeanours of Forest people throughout the Forest often in places now lost to modern memory. But for those who wish to come to a full understanding of the Forest at this period this particular book is a must.
New Forest Tavern Signs
The Christopher Tower New Forest Reference Library is always on the lookout for relevant additions to its collections. This morning the team was very pleased to receive an album of 1980s photographs of New Forest pubs and tavern signs. Highlights include the Morant Arms, Brockenhust; the Fleur de Lys, Boldre; the Rose and Crown, Brockenhurst; the Royal Oak at Downton with the oak emerging from the Inn’s foundations; and the Ship in Distress, an old pub once run by ‘Mother Sellars’ and figuring prominently in local smuggling history around Fisherman’s Bank. We will endeavour to keep you updated with information about new acquisitions as they arrive.
Newlands Copse, Beaulieu Heath
‘grid_reference’:”,’shelf_mark’:’FF7 Map tank 3, formerly part of FF13-14-02′,’map_envelope’: ”,’map_category’: ”,’map_os_reference’: ‘SU 3200 3300′,’map_revision_date’: ”,’map_coverage’: ‘Newlands Copse, Beaulieu Heath’,’map_quoted_scale’: ‘1:2,500′,’map_fractional_scale’: ‘[1:2,500]’,’edition’: ”,’comments’: ”,’map_annotated’: ”,’accession_number’: ”,’map_annotation_comment’: ”,’creator’: ‘Ordnance Survey’
NFK Conference 2018: Commoning
The New Forest Knowledge Conference 2018 was entitled ‘The Role of Commoning in the Maintenance of Landscape and Ecology from a New Forest, National and Global Perspective’.
Commoning is recognised as important in the survival of the New Forest: a prized reserve for endangered species and a beautiful landscape enjoyed for recreation. The New Forest commoning system has been described as unique in North Western Europe, characterised by the exercise of common rights by 700 commoners. This conference considered the use and significance of common pool resources from a historical, local, national and international perspective.
The conference which was chaired by Tony Hockley and Clive Chatters was held on Monday 29th October at Lyndhurst Community Centre.
As well as presentations, there were displays from various organisations as well as photographs gathered as part of the Through Our Ancestors’ Eyes project.
The programme below has links to each paper’s abstract along with the video of the presentation where it is available.
Morning
- The ecology of pastoralism; or why the New Forest is so good for wildlife – Clive Chatters, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
- Commoning & the Historic Landscape of Hunting Forests – Graham Bathe, Open Spaces Society & Researcher
- New Forest Commoning through the Ages – Richard Reeves, Independent Researcher
- Public benefit and private greed: The politics of improvement and enclosure in the New Forest – Gale Gould University of Southampton
Afternoon
- Commoning voices: interpreting the Real New Forest – Lyndsey Stride, Commoning Voices
- The positive contribution of commoning across England – Julia Aglionby, Foundation for Common Land
- Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group, South West – Jenny Phelps, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group, South West
- Messages from elsewhere: Lessons from the management of commons in Norway – Chris Short, Countryside & Community Research Institute (CCRI)
Oil Refinery
‘grid_reference’:”,’shelf_mark’:’FF7 Map tank 3, formerly part of FF13-14-02′,’map_envelope’: ”,’map_category’: ”,’map_os_reference’: ‘SU 4404 4504′,’map_revision_date’: ”,’map_coverage’: ‘Oil Refinery’,’map_quoted_scale’: ‘1:2,500′,’map_fractional_scale’: ‘[1:2,500]’,’edition’: ”,’comments’: ”,’map_annotated’: ”,’accession_number’: ”,’map_annotation_comment’: ”,’creator’: ‘Ordnance Survey’
Oil Refinery, Marine terminal
‘grid_reference’:”,’shelf_mark’:’FF7 Map tank 3, formerly part of FF13-14-02′,’map_envelope’: ”,’map_category’: ”,’map_os_reference’: ‘SU 4604 4704′,’map_revision_date’: ”,’map_coverage’: ‘Oil Refinery, Marine terminal’,’map_quoted_scale’: ‘1:2,500′,’map_fractional_scale’: ‘[1:2,500]’,’edition’: ”,’comments’: ”,’map_annotated’: ”,’accession_number’: ”,’map_annotation_comment’: ”,’creator’: ‘Ordnance Survey’
Principal English Forests and Woodland Landscapes in Art Exhibited (1760-1914) in 32 UK Towns and Cities (Including London).
‘accession_number’:”,’abstract’: ‘Lists of specific titles: New Forest, Burnham Beeches, Windsor Forest, Epping Forest, Sherwood Forest, Forest of Arden, Ashdown Forest, Charnwood Forest, Forest of Dean, Marlborough Forest’,’author’: ‘Yeldham, Charlotte ‘,’series_title’: ”,’volume’: ”,’publisher’: ‘unpublished’,’place_of_publication’: ‘London’,’isbn’: ”,’issn’: ”,’format’: ”,’class_number’: ‘G.830′,’Subject’: ”,’shelf_mark’: ‘FF11/46.1′,’year_of_publication’: ‘2021’,’creator’:’Yeldham, Charlotte ‘
Richard (Dick) Galton, 29th February 1924 – 29th February 2012
Christopher Tower New Forest Reference Library volunteer, Liz Galton, shares an article about her late husband, Lyndhurst resident, Dick Galton…
Dick was born in Lyndhurst and apart from his five years’ army service during the war, lived here for the whole of his life. He was Head Choirboy at St. Michael & All Angel’s Church and Head Boy at Lyndhurst School. At 14 he won a scholarship to Greggs School, then based in Grosvenor Square in Southampton, where he learnt the commercial skills that were to prove useful in later life.
On leaving school, Dick joined the New Forest Rural Council as a trainee Sanitary Inspector. In those early days before the war, a visit to somewhere as remote as Calshot with his boss meant taking sandwiches and a whole day out. Dick retained vivid memories of those early years when, as he said, everyone in Lyndhurst knew everyone else.
Dick spent much of the war being posted around England with the Royal Militia Island of Jersey, before being sent out to Rome with MI9 for 18 months in early
1946, ironically, just a few months after he had married Doris.
On his return from the army, Dick returned to his old department, now renamed Environmental Health, and qualified as an Environmental Health Officer, also as a Meat Inspector which entailed inspecting the numerous small local abattoirs.
He spent 10 years working on the Hobhouse Survey, a government scheme which entailed inspecting every house under a certain rateable value in the NFRC area, giving him an in depth knowledge of the New Forest and surrounding area.
Dick, Doris and daughter Pauline, had spent several years living in shared accommodation in the village before moving to a new house in Beechen Lane, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Always participating in village activities, Dick was also a keen sportsman & during the 1950s captained the Lyndhurst Cricket Club 2nd eleven on Saturdays and played for the first team on Sundays. Vic Loveless used Dick’s history of Lyndhurst Cricket Club in his book on the New Forest and its Cricketers. During the early 1960s cricket gave way to golf; he played at Lyndhurst where he achieved a single-figure handicap and was Captain for a year, later joining Brockenhurst Manor Golf Club.
Following Government reorganisation in 1974 Dick became a Senior Housing Officer, taking early retirement in 1981.
Sadly, Doris died in 1979 but shortly afterwards Dick met Liz through their mutual love of bird-watching and they married in 1982. Pauline spent much of her life living and working in Lyndhurst and his grandson still lives and works in the village. Uniquely, all three generations were born at the Fenwick Hospital; Dick helped in the campaign to keep it remaining open as a local facility.
Dick did voluntary work throughout his long retirement, with Lyndhurst Community Centre, a few years as secretary of the Hampshire Alliance of Amateur and Professional Golfers and for several years compiled the statistics for Totton CAB.
He was Chairman of Lyndhurst Historical Society for many years, served 3 terms on Lyndurst Parish Council and in later years became a volunteer in the Christopher Tower Reference Library at the New Forest Centre. He also became an active member of Lyndhurst Church.
Unfortunately, ill-health forced Dick to give up most of his activities a year before his death on his 88th birthday – which was leap year day.
As he was fond of saying – “when you’ve lived in the forest all your life, your roots go down a long way”.
Ringwood, Christchurch Road
‘description’:’Bakers, cycle and radio shop, Christchurch Road, Ringwood’,’colour’: ”,’publisher’: ”,’creator’:’Ted Baker’,’place_of_publication’: ”,’format’: ”,’accession_number’: ”,’image_location’: ‘Christchurch Road’,’object_number’:’RIN1.F124′