THE ROYAL FORESTS – ADMINISTRATION OF FOREST LAWS

Author: Newspaper article by unknown author

Description: Report of an address to the Surveyors' Institution on "Forestry Law" by Mr. BW Adkin which describes the 'oppressive laws promulgated by the early monarchs to protect their sports'. The origins of only two forests were known: the New Forest and that of Hampton Court. The Norman kings and Charles I used their power to extend the areas of their forests, but at the time of writing only 115,300 acres remained Crown woods/forests. Mr Adkin questioned the statement that 'many manors and villages were placed under the ban and whole counties were depopulated for the King's Royal diversion'. The laws protected the king's rights above common law and were administered by Woodmote, Swaincote and finally the Court of Justice in the Eyre. Laws were passed to protect England's 'wooden walls' as early as 690-693AD (King of the West Saxons). Mr Adkin further commented that trees in churchyards 'belonged to the parson, no-one could cut them down without his permission, althought the parson could only fell them, unless they were decayed, for the repair of the church and parsonage house'.

Publisher: unknown

Period covered: n.d.

Format: Printed: Newspaper article

Primary Reference: 300000007

Last import: December 21, 2022