Appendix

No. I — Papers Preserved in the Lansdowne Collection at the British Museum

“Right Honourable,

“Acoording unto your Lordship’s warrant, Wee repaired unto and have veiwed and duelie considered the severall woodes, known by the names of Great Bradley, Little Bradley, Stonegrove, Pigstade, Buckholde Moore, and the Copps; all lying together and conteyning by the measure of 16½ foote the pole, 520 acres. In w^ch grounds we thinke (the woodes being muche differing in qualitie, by an equall proportion) there maie be raised for everie acre 30 coard of woode; reserving sufficient staddells according to the state, w^ch, according to the measure of the said grounds, amounted unto the number of 15,600 cordes of woode. Uppon conference with divers in the contrie, wee finde that such a quantitie of woode is not suddainly to be vented in anie other sorte then to the iron workes, w^ch causeth either the cheapnes or dearnes of the same; the contrie not vallewing the said woodes uppon the stem above xiiiid the coard, although to the iron workes it may be vallued at II^s VI^d the coard. So that according to the rate of the contrie, the said proportion of woode is worthe cccccv li. And according to the compictacon for the iron works, the same maie be vallued at mixclx li. We imagine that the charge of ffensing the said woodes, circuting 4 miles, will cost, to be done and kept according to the state, aboute cc markes. The rent is 20 li. per ann.

“Robert Treswell. J. Norden. Tho. Morgan.”

The wood standing in the 6 copses above named, Sir Edward Winter proposed to buy for 800 lib., cutting and carrying away the same, one copse after another, in 5 years’ time. But this proposal was so impugned as to elicit the ensuing defence from Sir E. Winter:—“A true Answere to the objections made against my late bargaine for some of his M^ties coppices or colletts adioyning to the fforest of Deane.

“‘1. Ffirst, that contrarie to the intention of this bargaine, I have alredie cut downe a great number of tymber-trees, whereas to this howre not any one is felled of that kynde or any other.

“‘2. That a follower of my L^d of Worcester’s should survey those woodes is a wilful mistakinge, synce by the particules it appeares that one M^r Hervye made this survey by warrant from the late L. Trer.

“‘3. That I should gaine a 1000 li. per ann. by this bargaine is soe vayre and ympossible a thing as deserves noe Aunswere.

“‘Yet that your L^pp maye see howe much Th’ informer hath exceeded therein, himselfe or any man els shall purchase my interest for a tenth parte of his valuation. Which I write not in any sorte to capitulate with your L^pp; for w^thout any consideration at all, I am redie to yealde upp this bargaine, rather then by reteyning thereof to harbour in your noblest thoughts the least ill conceipt of mee or my proceedinges. But nowe, S^r, howe profitable a bargaine you have made for the Kinge, these considerations followinge will easely demonstrate—ffor whereas in former tyme a greater proffit was never raised out of these wooddes than xxvs per ann. vntill my L^d your ffather and S^r Walter Myldemaye did let them by lease, and soe made viili rent, w^thout any ffyne, your L^pp hath now made 500^li ffyne, and 20^li rent, w^ch is noe smale improvement, consideringe that these 25 yeares last past not one pennye rent or proffitt otherwise hath bene made out of them, but left as a thing forgotten. That the coppice woodd or vnderwoodd through the abuse of the last ffarmer, who never inclosed these wooddes, and the contynuall spoyle and havocke of the country thereabouts, is utterly destroyed. That there is nothinge nowe eft in 4 of those 6 coppices for w^ch I have bargained but old beaches, heretofore topt and lopt, whereof many of them nowe are scarce worth the cuttinge out to any man but myselfe, in respect of my iron workes beinge soe nere to them. That the other twoe coppices which are well stored have nothinge in them but younge beaches, and some other woodd of xx or xxx yeares growth. That in dyvers of those coppices there are many acres w^ch have noe manner of woodd standing vpon them at all. Lastly, that the enclosinge of these coppices w^th a sufficient mound will cost me 200 markes the least, beside the great quantitie of woodd that must necessarilye be spent therein, for w^ch no manner of allowance is made mee, &c. &c. &c.’”

The next MS. in Sir J. Cæsar’s collection seems designed to promote the extension of the iron-works, and relates several interesting particulars. It is headed “Reasons to move his M^tie to make vse and profitt of the woodes within the fforest of Deane.” The Forest woods are said to “containe of great standing woodes, though of severall and different sortes, 15,000 acres, parte beinge tymber, and parte other, the most parte well sett, the lawndes not accompted. The same fforest is a forest for waste, and of soe ill condicõn for hunting, as that the preservinge the woodes thereof will nether yield pleasure to the hunter nor profitt to the owner; and the woodes thereupon soe subject to waste, will dayly grow worse and worse. The fforest is for II. or III. myles vpon the skirts soe exceedingly wasted, as well by the inhabitants as other the borderers adiacent, that yt is grief to see soe many goodly trees to be spoiled, the vse whereof hath bene such as yt hath converted the tymber trees to Dotards, and that almost generally vpon the borders of the same fforest. The liberty of makinge sale of the wood hath bred in the same such a multitude of poore creatures, as it is lamentable to thinke soe many inhabitants shall lyve vpon soe bare provision as vpon spoile of the fforest woodes, w^ch yf in tyme yt be not forseene, will consume all his M^ties woodes without accompte. It appeareth by Recorde, that in the raigne of Henry III., Edward I., II., and III., and longe sithence, there were divers forges within the fforest, and noe other but the Kinge’s only; and of these there were VIII. at one tyme, as appeareth by the accompt of Maurice de S^cto Amando, and the rest were Forgium Itinerans ad siccum in bosco de, &c. All lyberty beinge prohibited for cuttinge of greene wood but to his Ma^tes owne forge. And whosoever cutt greene wood was by the officer of the Bayliwycke attached for the same. Also by negligence of former officers the inhabitantes of the said forest have much insulted by cuttinge of trees in the said forest, whereas by Recorde it appeareth the Kynge’s Warrant was in former tymes obtayned for cuttinge of deade trees, and who soe cutt, shredd, or lopped great wood w^thout good warrant, was from tyme to tyme attached, presented, and made to paye for y^e same. There are, to keepe and preserve the woodes of the said forest, tenn woodwardes, or Baylyfes of ffee, who hould Landes by that service, viz. Per servitum custodiendi boscum Domini Regis infra Ballinam, &c. Yet late experience proveth that they, their Tenauntes and Servantes, are as great spoilers as any others. And the antient Recordes make mencõn, that some of these woodwardes have forfeyted their Bayliwyckes, and have compounded w^th the Kinge to have them againe regranted. It appeareth alsoe by Recordes, that the King hath bene answered of Browsewood w^thin the Forest of Deane, and therein is sett downe what ffees were from tyme to tyme allowed to the keeper and what not. The profitt to be made of the said woodes is either by convertinge the same to coles, and soe for makinge iron or otherwise by sellinge of the tymber by the tonne. In w^ch disposition of the woodes there wil be lytle or noe difference in advantage. But of the two the makinge of coles will be lykely to yield most profitt.”

These succeeding papers, preserved with those already given, have also their interest:—

“Certain lands and tenem^ts holden by the face, and called new sett landes, w^ch the tenantes doe passe from partie to partie in the Kinge’s Court at S^t Breuills, being all the Kinge’s lands liing in the fforest of Deane in com’ Glouc., every tenante there payeing a certein yerely rent to his M^ts Bailiff. Imprimis, the parke of Thomas Baynham, Esq^r, called Noxon, is parcell therof, except from the gutter to the pale towards his house, holden by the tenure aforesaid, 50^li per ann.

“Item, the house and land of Richard Allowaye, gent., is so holden, 30^li per ann.

“George Wirrelle’s land at Bicknor, from the same towne to one Sipprian’s howse, and so downe to Skidmore’s house, and likewise to the fforest side, is of the like tenure, together w^th other lands beyond his house, 50^li per ann.

“Richard Carpenter’s land, called 5 acres, and his corne leasowes, w^th all his other landes abutting vpon M^r Thornburie’s Myll, and so vp to the same forrest, is so holden, 15^li p^r ann.

“M^r Thornburie’s Myll, w^th all the landes thereunto belonginge, is so holden, 20^li.

“Richard Wirgan’s land, nere to a place called the Meine, w^thin the said forrest, adioyning to the woodside, is of that same tenure, 10^li.

“Christofer Bunn holdeth parcell of the same landes w^ch I have not viewed, 10^li.

“The Earle of Pembrooke holdeth by lease for 5 yeres yet to come, Whitemayde Parke, w^ch was taken out of the forrest, of the like tenure, 20^li.

“Sir Edward Winter’s parke from the woodeside to the launde is of the like tenure, together w^th the 2 highwaies w^ch have bene inclosed out of the forrest w^thin this 20 yeres, 30^li.

“Widowe Earwoode’s ground from M^r Carpenter’s to the forrest side is of the same tenure, 15^li.

“Thomas Dininge’s Myll, called Breame, w^th all the landes and tenements thereto belonging, is so holden, as allso his house and land upon the hill, and all other his landes towardes Breame likewise.

“Item, all the lands from Conyers bridge, being a great quantity, to the forrest, are belonging to the same landes, but lately aliened & sould by deed, & now holden by demise, are of like tenure, being parcell of the forrest, 40^li.

“Mr. Jeames, of Bristoll, holdeth 100^li per ann. of the same tenure w^thin the forrest.

“M^d these are not halfe the landes on that side the forrest, but towards Michell Deane & little Deane there is muche more.

“Item, Willm. Hall hath land there w^ch a Dyer holdeth vnder him, & was taken out of the Kinge’s comon, together w^th other lands not yet throughly viewed.

“Item, all Wrurdyne is much more land, w^ch shall be viewed & sett downe hereafter.

“Item, Stanton’s myne, w^th much other land vnviewed, is so holden.

“All w^ch particulars doe but conteine but the least parte of the landes holden by the foresaid tenure.”

Further particulars, of the same character as the above, and forming a part of the series now given, occur in the records of another survey, as follows:—

“Rent reserved for the farme of two Messuages and one Watermill, of which two Messuages one is called Sulley, the other Redmore; And of 5 cotages, with gardens and orchards to the same belonginge; and of one 30 Acres of Land, Meadow, Pasture, Arrable, and Woodland; Some whereof are called Salley fields, Gumspitt, Le Harper, Diwardens, Broadfeild, Radmore, Coppier, Kew-grove, Martin’s Wall, and Ediland, conteyninge together cccxlvii acres, one rood, and one perch, late in the occupacon of Edward James, lying in the fforest of Deane, in the County of Gloucester, of the yearely value of vis and viiid and ivs penny halfepenny.

“And of six Messuages, six Barnes, gardens, and orchards to the same belongings, And of xvi. several Closes of Land, Meadowe, Pasture, Arrable Land, and Woodland; Two whereof are called Cownedge, ten called Digges, one called Bradley, one Beggars’ Thorne mead, one called Marshall’s grove, and the other called ffernefeilde, and one other called Bradley, conteyninge in the whole Threescore and ten acres and three roods, lying in the fforest aforesaid, late in the occupation of Robert Pearke, of the yearly value of iis and vid, &c. &c. &c.

“The names of the officers belonging to his M^ties fforrest of Deane in Com’ Glouc., viz., the Earle of Pembrooke is now High Cunstable of the same fforest. William Winter and Roger Myners, Esq^rs, or one of them, is deputie Cunstable to the said Earle, & they keepe Courtes every 3 weeks at S^t Breuilles, and allso every 6 weekes at the Speach House, or Court of Attachment w^thin the same fforrest. William Carpenter is Steward of S^t Breuills Courtes & the said Speach Court or Attachementes courtes. Robert Bridgeman is Bailiff for all the said Courtes, and allso in all the liberties in the said fforrest, and James Yennys is his deputie Bayliff. M^d every tenantes & the borderers doe take tymber for their buildings as allso hedge woods to inclose their own groundes, & take fyring at their pleasure w^thin the fforrest, & sell their owne woodes and the woodes of the landes w^thin mentioned, to the great spoile of the Kinge’s woodes w^thin the said fforrest.”

No. II

One of the Dean Forest Claims, put in at the Justice Seat, held in Gloucester Castle, 10 Chas. I.

Clamea posita in Itinere Forestæ de Deane tento apud Castrum Glouc. in com. Glouc. die Iovis decimo die Iulij anno Regni Domini Caroli nunc Regis Angliæ decimo coram Henrico Comite de Holland prænobilis Ordinis Garterii Milite Capitali Justitiario ac Justitiariis Itinerantibus omnium Forestarum Chacearum parcorum et warrennarum Domini Regis citra Trentam.

(18) Foresta de Deane in Comitatu Glouc.

Et modo ad hanc curiam venit Willielmus Skynne, per Edwardum Offley attornatum suum, et dicit quod ipse est seisitus de antiquo mesuagio in Plattwell in parochia de Newland et de viginti acris terræ prati et pasturæ et de diversis horreis stabulis, Anglice barnes Stables, et aliis necessariis edificiis super terram prædictam ab antiquo edificatis in parochia de Newland infra Forestam de Deane prædictam in dominico suo ut de feodo, et pro se et hæredibus suis clamat has libertates privilegia et franchesias sequentia tanquam ad mesuagium terram pratum et pasturam et cætera edificia prædicta pertinentia et spectantia, videlicet pro necessaria reedificatione et reparatione dicti mesuagii sui et aliorum antiquorum edificiorum suorum super terram et tenementa sua prædicta existentium, quod ipse per visum et allocationem forestariorum et viridariorum Forestæ prædictæ de bosco et maeremio domini Regis super vasta et communia Forestæ prædictæ crescentibus de tempore in tempus capere et percipere potest. Et quod forestarii et viridarii Forestæ prædictæ post requisitionem per ipsum Willielmum Skynne eisdem factam apud Curiam domini Regis infra Forestam prædictam tentam vocatam Le Speech Court, debent ire videre et appunctuare boscum et maeremium in vastis et communibus Forestæ prædictæ sic ut præfertur crescentia prædictis necessariis reedificationibus et reparationibus suis dicti mesuagii et aliorum edificiorum suorum supradictorum et eidem Willielmo Skynne inde allocationem facere. Clamat etiam pro necessariis estoveriis suis in dicto antiquo mesuagio comburendis et expendendis ad libitum suum capere de mortuis et siccis arboribus dicti domini Regis in vastis et communibus locis Forestæ prædictæ existentibus. Clamat etiam communiam pasturæ in omnibus locis apertis et communicalibus Forestæ prædictæ pro omnibus averiis suis communicalibus super terras et tenementa sua prædicta levantibus et cubantibus omnibus anni temporibus (mense vetito solummodo excepto). Clamat etiam habere pawnagium pro omnibus porcis suis super terras et tenementa sua prædicta levantibus et cubantibus in omnibus vastis Forestæ prædictæ tempore pawnagii, Reddendo domino Regi annuatim summam unius denarii pro pawnagio prædicto per nomen de Swinesilver et non amplius. Et pro titulo ad has libertates privilegia et franchesias sic ut præfertur superius per ipsum clamata, idem Willielmus Skynne ulterius dicit quod ipse et omnes antecessores sui et omnes illi quorum statum ipse nunc habet in mesuagio terra et tenementis supradictis a tempore cujus contrarii memoria hominum non existit in contrarium usi fuerunt et consueverunt de tempore in tempus facere sectam ad Curiam dicti domini Regis et prædecessorum suorum Regum et Reginarum Angliæ apud Castrum suum Sancti Briavelli de tribus septimanis in tres septimanas, ac etiam annuatim solvere feodo firmario domini Regis Forestæ prædictæ pro tempore existenti vel ejus ballivo redditum octo solidorum et octo denariorum ad usum dicti domini Regis. Ac etiam annuatim solvere dicto feodo firmario vel ejus ballivo summam unius denarii in nomine de Swinesilver ad usum dicti domini Regis. Et quod ipse præfatus Willielmus Skynne et omnes antecessores et omnes ili quorum statum ipse nunc habet in mesuagio terris et tenementis supradictis ratione soctæ ad Curiam dicti domini Regis et redditus octo solidorum et octo denariorum prædictorum ac summæ unius denarii in nomine de Swinesilver sic ut præfertur per ipsum de tempore in tempus domino Regi factorum et solutorum usi fuerunt et a toto prædicto tempore cujus contrarii memoria hominum non existit in contrarium uti consueverunt omnibus et singulis libertatibus privilegiis et franchesiis modo et forma prout per ipsum Willielmum Skynne superius sunt clamata tanquam ad prædictum mesuagium terras et tenementa prædicta spectantia et pertinentia, et eis omnibus et singulis juxta vim formam et effectum clamei sui prædicti usi fuerunt, et idem Willielmus Skynne adhuc utitur prout ei bene licet. Et hoc paratus est verificare prout curia consideraverit unde idem Willielmus Skynne petit prædicta libertates privilegia et franchesias hic ut præfertur per ipsum superius clamata sibi et hæredibus suis allocari juxta clameum suum prædictum.

Tobias Rose.

No. III

Table I — Formed by Mr. Machen

An Account of the Admeasurement of Trees in Dean Forest; viz., A, an Oak near the Woodman’s in Shutcastle; B, “Jack of the Yat,” an Oak Tree on the Coleford and Mitcheldean Road; C, a large Oak in Sallow Vallets; D, an Oak which appears to be formed of two Oaks grown together, on the Lodge Hill, 300 yards west of York Lodge; E, a black Italian Poplar in the Garden at Whitemead. All taken at six feet from the ground.

[Note: In each table, Inc = Increase in Size.]

	A		B [265]		C 265a		D 265b		E
		Inc		Inc		Inc		Inc		Inc
	Ft.ins	ins	Ft.ins	ins	Ft.ins	ins	Ft.ins	ins	Ft.ins	ins
Oct 1814	3 9	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
„ 1816	3 10⅝	1⅝	-	-	-	-	17 2	-	-	-
„ 1818	3 11⅝	1	-	-	-	-	17 3	1	0 11½	-
„ 1820	4 0⅞	1¼	-	-	-	-	17 7⅛	4⅛	-	-
„ 1822	4 2⅝	1¾	-	-	-	-	18 0¼	5⅛	-	-
„ 1824	4 4½	1⅞	-	-	-	-	18 3¾	3½	-	-
„ 1826	4 5½	1	-	-	-	-	18 9¾	6	-	-
„ 1828	4 8	2½	-	-	-	-	18 11¾	2	-	-
„ 1830	4 10	2	-	-	12 4½	-	19 0½	0¾	4 3	-
„ 1832	4 10¾	0¾	-	-	-	-	19 1¾	1¼	-	-
„ 1834	4 11¼	0½	-	-	-	-	19 4	2¼	6 1¾	-
„ 1836	5 0	0¾	-	-	-	-	19 9	5	6 9	7¼
„ 1838	5 0¾	0¾	17 9		12 10½	6	20 2	5	7 0½	3½
„ 1840	5 1	0¼	17 10	1	12 10¾	0¼	20 4	2	7 7	6½
„ 1842	5 1¼	0¼	17 11¼	1¼	12 11½	0¾	20 8	4	8 0	5
„ 1844	5 3½	2¼	18 2¾	3½	13 1	1½	-	-	8 10	10
„ 1846	5 4¾	1¼	18 3½	0¾	13 2½	1½	21 0	4	9 3¼	5¼
„ 1848	5 6	1¼	18 5¼	1¾	13 4	1½	21 4	4	9 10	6¾
„ 1850	5 6½	0½	18 6	0¾	13 4¾	0¾	21 6½	2½	10 2	4
„ 1852	5 7	0½	18 6½	0½	13 5¼	0½	21 8	1½	10 8	6
„ 1854	cut down	-	18 7¼	0¾	13 7½	2¾	21 10	2	11 2½	6½

Table 2 — Formed by Mr. Machen

An Account of the Admeasurement of several Oak Trees in the Bailey Copse (North), A, B, C, D, E, and F.

N.B.—The Copse was open for many years, and the Oak underwood kept down by cattle browsing. It was enclosed in 1813, and thickly stored, and the underwood cut in 1817. It is now (1818) well stored with young Oaks of the same description as those measured.

Inc

in.

Oct. 1818

7¾

10¾

9½

12⅝

10¾

„ 1820

1¼

2¼

10½

10¼

1¼

14⅜

1¾

12⅛

1⅜

„ 1822

10¼

1¼

15⅛

2⅛

11¼

0¾

11½

1¼

16¼

1⅞

0⅞

„ 1824

11⅜

1⅛

17⅛

12⅜

1⅛

12⅝

1⅛

17¾

1½

14¾

1¾

„ 1826

12¼

0⅞

18¾

1⅝

13¼

0⅞

13¾

1⅛

19⅛

1⅜

16⅛

1⅜

„ 1828

13⅛

0⅞

19½

0¾

13¾

0½

14½

0¾

20⅜

1¼

17¼

1⅛

„ 1830

13⅝

0½

20⅜

0⅞

0¼

15¼

0¾

0⅝

17¾

0½

„ 1832

15⅜

1¾

22¼

1⅞

14½

0½

16⅝

1⅜

22½

1½

19¼

1½

„ 1834

17⅜

2¾

15⅝

1⅛

18⅛

1½

1¾

„ 1836

19⅛

1¾

27¾

2¾

17⅝

19½

1⅜

25¾

1¾

22¾

1¾

„ 1838

21⅛

30⅜

2⅝

1⅜

20¾

1¼

27¾

24¼

1½

„ 1840

22⅞

1¾

1⅝

20⅜

1⅜

21¾

1¼

25¾

1½

„ 1842

24⅝

1¾

33⅞

1⅞

21¾

1⅜

22⅝

0⅞

30¼

1¼

„ 1844

1⅜

34¾

0⅞

0¼

22⅞

0¼

30¾

0½

27½

0½

„ 1846

27½

1½

36½

1¾

22¾

0¾

23⅝

0¾

32⅛

1⅜

28⅝

1⅛

„ 1848

2½

38¾

2¼

24½

1¾

25¼

1½

34⅛

30⅝

„ 1850

31½

1½

40½

1¾

1½

0¾

35½

1⅜

32½

1⅞

„ 1852

32¾

1¼

0½

26¾

0¾

26¼

0¼

1½

33¾

1¼

„ 1854

33¾

26¾

27¼

37¾

0¾

34¾

Table 3 — Formed by Mr. Machen

An Account of the Admeasurement of Seven Beech Timber Trees growing in Doward Wood, near the walk by the side of the River Wye. They are clean and smooth in the bark, and appear fast growing.

Inc

ins

Oct. 1838

64½

56¼

58¼

56½

53¼

47¼

„ 1840

0½

57⅛

0⅞

0¾

57½

53¾

0½

1¾

„ 1842

66¾

1¾

54¼

1¼

58½

1⅜

60⅜

1⅜

58⅝

1⅛

55⅛

1⅜

„ 1844

69¾

54½

0¼

0½

61¼

0⅞

0⅜

55¾

0⅝

„ 1846

3¼

55½

60¼

1¼

0¾

59½

0½

56½

0¾

49½

0½

„ 1848

73¼

0¼

0½

61½

1¼

62¼

0¼

60¼

0¾

57½

50½

„ 1850

73½

0¼

56¼

0¼

62½

63¼

60½

0¼

58¾

1¼

50¾

0¼

„ 1852

2½

56½

0¼

63¼

0¾

64½

1¼

61½

59½

0¾

51½

0¾

„ 1854

1½

64¾

1½

65⅝

1⅛

62½

61¼

1¾

52½

Table 4 — Formed by Mr. Machen

An Account of the Admeasurement of 14 Oak Timber Trees, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, growing on Hall’s Hill, and H, I, J, K, L, M, and N, on Pritchard’s Hill, both near the Ride in the Highmeadow Woods. The trees are probably now (1822) 80 or 90 years old.

First Part

Inc

in.

Oct 1822

65½

67⅜

46½

82½

„ 1824

62½

1½

63¾

1¾

2½

1⅝

49¼

2¾

83¼

0¾

„ 1826

2½

65¾

71¾

3¾

71½

2½

2¾

0¾

55½

3½

„ 1828

67¼

2¼

67½

1¾

74½

2¾

73¼

1¾

54¾

2¾

2½

„ 1830

68¼

68½

0½

73¾

0½

55¼

0½

87¼

2¼

„ 1832

0¾

69½

76½

1½

74¼

0½

56¾

1½

88¼

60½

1½

„ 1834

71¼

1¾

77½

75¼

57½

0¾

1¾

61½

„ 1836

72½

1½

72¾

1½

78½

0¾

0½

62½

„ 1838

73½

0¾

79¾

1¼

76½

0½

63¾

1¼

„ 1840

0½

74¾

1¼

80¼

0½

1½

59¼

0¼

92½

0½

0¼

„ 1842

75⅝

1⅝

74⅞

0⅛

81½

1¼

79⅛

1⅛

59¼

93⅜

0⅞

„ 1844

76¾

1⅛

75¾

0⅞

0½

80¼

1⅛

60½

1¼

93¾

0⅜

65¾

1¾

„ 1846

1¼

77½

1¾

82¾

0¾

81½

1¼

61½

2¼

1¼

„ 1848

80¼

2¼

78½

83¼

0½

82¼

0¾

1½

96¼

0¼

„ 1850

1¾

79¾

1¼

84¾

1½

83¾

1½

64½

1½

1¾

„ 1852

82½

0½

80½

0¾

85¼

0½

83¾

65¼

0¾

98½

0½

69¾

1¾

„ 1854

83¼

0¾

81¼

0¾

85½

0¼

2¼

66¼

99¼

0¾

1¼

Second Part

Inc

in.

Oct 1822

31¼

46¾

67¼

36¾

„ 1824

52¼

3¼

32¼

49½

2¾

69¾

2½

2¼

29¾

1¾

„ 1826

55¾

3½

33¾

1½

52½

34½

72½

2¾

42¼

3¼

31¾

„ 1828

58¼

2½

35¼

1½

55¼

2¾

2½

2¾

2¼

„ 1830

0¾

37½

0½

45½

0½

34½

0½

„ 1832

60¼

1¼

57¼

1¼

1½

77½

1½

47¼

1¾

36¼

1¾

„ 1834

0¾

38¾

0¾

78¾

0¾

„ 1836

39½

0¾

0¼

48¾

0¾

„ 1838

62¾

0¾

40½

60¼

1¼

41¾

1¾

80¼

1¼

„ 1840

0¼

41¼

0¾

42¾

82¼

51½

1½

39¼

0¼

„ 1842

63¾

0¾

41¼

43¼

0½

83¼

53¼

1¾

39½

0¼

„ 1844

64¼

0½

0¾

84¾

1½

54½

1¼

40⅛

0⅝

„ 1846

66¼

62¾

0¾

45¼

0½

85¾

55½

0⅞

„ 1848

0¾

63¾

46¼

86½

0¾

1½

„ 1850

68¾

1¾

44½

0½

1¼

47½

1¼

1½

„ 1852

0¼

44¾

0¼

65¾

0¾

0½

43¾

0¾

„ 1854

69½

0½

45¾

66⅜

0⅝

48¾

0¾

0¼

Table 5 — Formed by Mr. Machen

An Account of the Admeasurement of nine Trees growing on York Lodge Hill: A, B, C are Oaks; D, E, F are Turkey Oaks; and G, H, I are Chesnuts. These trees have been planted singly on the open Forest without any Fence (now 1836), about 20 years since.

First Part

	A.	Oak.	B.	Oak.	C.	Oak.	D. Turkey	Oak.	E. Turkey	Oak.
		Inc		Inc		Inc		Inc		Inc
	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.
Oct 1836	2 8½	-	2 5	-	2 9¼	-	1 7½	-	1 9	-
„ 1838	2 11	2½	2 6¾	1¾	2 11¼	2	1 10	2½	1 11½	2½
„ 1840	3 0¼	1¼	2 8½	1¾	3 1½	2¼	2 0¾	2¾	2 2½	3
„ 1842	3 2	1¾	2 10	1½	3 3½	2	2 3½	2¾	2 5½	3
„ 1844	3 5½	3½	3 1	3	3 6½	3	2 7	3½	2 9	3½
„ 1846	3 8	2½	3 2	1	3 10	3½	2 10	3	3 0	3
„ 1848	3 10¼	2¼	3 4	2	4 1	3	3 1	3	3 2¼	2¼
„ 1850	4 0½	2¼	3 5½	1½	4 2	1	3 2¾	1¾	3 4¼	2
„ 1852	4 2¾	2¼	3 7½	2	4 4	2	3 4¾	2	3 6½	2¼
„ 1854	4 5¾	3	3 10	2½	4 7	3	3 8¾	4	3 10½	4

Second Part

	F	Turkey Oak.	G	Chesnut.	H	Chesnut.	I	Chesnut.
		Inc		Inc		Inc		Inc
	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.	ft.in.	in.
Oct 1836	1 7¼	-	1 11½	-	2 2	-	2 0¼	-
„ 1838	1 10¼	3	2 3	3½	2 5½	3½	2 5	4¾
„ 1840	2 1¼	3	2 5¾	2¾	2 8¾	3¼	2 10	5
„ 1842	2 4½	3¼	2 9½	3¾	3 0	3¼	3 3½	5½
„ 1844	2 8	3½	3 1	3½	3 2	2	3 9	5½
„ 1846	2 11	3	3 4	3	3 5½	3½	4 2¾	5¾
„ 1848	3 2¼	3¼	3 7½	3	3 8½	3	4 7¾	5
„ 1850	3 4¼	2	3 10	2½	3 9¾	1¼	4 11	3¼
„ 1852	3 6¾	2¼	4 1	3	3 11½	1¾	5 3½	4½
„ 1854	3 10	3¼	4 5	4	4 3½	4	5 8¼	4¾

The following letter of Mr. Vaughan, of Court Field on the Wye, near Lydbrook, merits insertion, as bearing testimony to the value of the preceding Tables compiled by Mr. Machen, exhibiting the growth of Trees in the Forest.

“Court Field, October 15, 1841.

“My dear Sir,

“I thank you very much for the interesting account you have sent me of the result of your observation during a series of years upon the growth of trees. It is really a most curious document. I ought to have thanked you sooner, but I was anxious, first, to compare your Table with the result of my own admeasurements of trees at Court Field in various situations; and give you, at the same time, the result of my calculations.

“I find that my experience fully corroborates yours, though it induces me to believe that the forest growth is slightly below an average—which the soil and situation would also induce one to imagine.

“I calculate, from your Table, that an oak-tree measuring 6 inches girt doubles its contents (exclusive of its increase in height and limb) in 5 to 6 years. Whereas, a tree measuring 8½ inches, or half a foot girt, requires 10 or 12 years to double itself.

“With regard to the trees 170 years old, I find that A has increased 19 feet or 28 per cent. only in 30 years, and B 26 feet or 48 per cent. during the same period; neither, therefore, paying much interest on their value within the last 30 years.

“I calculate that the value of the acres of growing timber which you refer to (73 oaks averaging 58 feet) would be £624 at £7 10s. per 50 feet; or, if the original value of the land and expense of ploughing it amounted to £25, about twenty-five times its original value.

“If the thinnings be considered equivalent to the expense of protection-fences, &c., and £25 at compound interest for 170 years be calculated, £624 will be found to be less than 1/20 per cent. = a hundredth of 5 per cent. per annum.

“I remain, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours,

“John V. Vaughan.”

No. IV — Mr. Wyrrall’s Survey of the Forest of Dean Iron Works in 1635

“Canop Furnace.—Most p^t new built, the rest repaired by the Farmers, 22^ft square, wheel 22^ft diam^r. Furnace box built 4 years since by the Farmers. Bridge-house 48^ft by 21, 9 high, built 4 years, Bellow’s boards 18^ft by 4. Clerk’s house and stable built by the Farmers. A cottage built by the Workmen belonging to the Works, now occupied by the Filler. Built before the Farmers hired.—Founder’s house, Minecracker’s cabin, A Mine Kiln.

“Park Furnace.—Same dimensions, repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, Wheel and almost all the houses built by the Farmers.

“Park end Forge.—2 Ham^rs, 3 Fineries, 1 Chaffery, rep^d 2 years since, one of the Fineries new.

“Whitecroft Forge,—built ab^t 6 y^rs since by the Farmers, d° d°

“Bradley Forge.—d° d° d°

“Sowdley Furnace, built 3 years—Qu. if rebuilt? Bridge house, p^t built by the farmers, p^t old and decay^d, Trow leading to the wheel, ½ made new 5 years since, decay^d, 5 Cottages, 1 built by the Farmers. A dam a mile above Sowdley built by the Farmers. A dam half a mile still higher, built long since.

“Sowdley Forge, 2 Fineries, 1 Chaffery built 2 years, in the place of the old Forge. Trows & Penstocks made new by the Farmers, decayed.

“Lydbrook Furnace, 23^ft long, 9 bottom, 23^ft deep, new built 3 y^rs since from the ground, 3 ^ft higher than before, much cracked. A great Buttress behind the Furnace to strengthen it.

“Lydbrook Forge.—1 Chaffery, 2 Fineries, House built 4 years, being burnt by accident.”

Besides the above, Mr. Wyrrall also transcribed the following additional particulars from a MS. dated 23 September, 1635, and endorsed,—“The booke of Survey for the Forest of Deane Iron work, and the Warrant annexed unto y^t.”

“Cannope Furnace.—Now blowinge, and likely to contynue aboute 3 weeks. The most part new built, and the rest repaired by the Farmers about 4 years since. Stone walls, about 60^lb, consistinge of the stone body thereof 22 foote square, wherein are:—

“In the fore front 4 Sowes of Iron }
and the Tempiron Wall 3 Sowes } 7 Sowes.

“A Wheele, 22 Foote diam^r, 7 Iron Whops, one the Waste, made about three years since. With Shafte and all things belonginge about 20^lb, in good repaire.

“The Furnace Howse half tiled, built with timber 4 years since by the Farmers, cost about 80^lb, in repaire.

“The Bridge house, 21 foot broad, 48 foot longe, and 9 foote heigh, built about 2 years since, the bridge about 4 years, covered with bords bottomed with Planks.

“5 bellow bords ready sawed, 18^ft longe, 4^ft broad. A Watter Trowe 1^ft at bottome and 15 ynches high, 75 yards longe, leadinge the water to the Wheele, cut out of the whole tymber, and ledged at the top, newe made within 4 years, and now in repaire, cost about 20^lb.

“The Hutch leading the Watter from the Wheele, 5 foot square, 85 foote long, not mended by these farmers, in repaire.

“In doinge of the saied Workes, besids the Hutch used by estimate about 150 Tonns, at viiis, and the Hutch about 40 Tonns, being trees only slitt and clapt together at 5^s the Ton.

“Outhouses.—The Furnace Keeper’s Cabbyne built of timber covered with bords built by the Farmers, cost 3^lb, 4 tonns.

“A Cottage neare the said Furnaces built by the workmen of the said Works, now enjoyed by the Filler there, and not belonging to the Workes.

“A Howse wherein the Clarke dwells, built by the Farmers w^th a stable, 20 Nob^s 6 Tonns.

“Another howse adjoyninge for the founder, built before the Farmers’ time.

“Another little cabbyne for the Myne Cracker, built before the Farmers’ time.

“8 dozen of Collyers Hurdles, 13^s 4^d.

“A Myne Kilne not in repaire, built before the Farmers’ tyme, with 5 piggs of Iron in the walls, 20^s will repaire.

“Cole places.

“Implemnts—one paire of Bellowes furnished with iron implem^nts, somewhat defective in the lethers, valued at 15^lb, made by the Farmers, the repaire whereof will cost 6^lb 13^s 4^d.

“6 cambes of iron in Wheele Shafte waying about 4^cwt.

“3 water Trowes for the Worke.

“1 Grindstone, 19 longe Ringers, 1 short one, 1 Constable, 7 Sinder Shovells, 1 moulding Ship, 2 casting ladles, 1 cinder hooke, 1 Plackett, 2 buck stoves, 1 Tuiron hooke, 1 Iron Tempe, 1 Sinder plate, 1 dame plate.

“4 Wheele barrowes, 1 great Sledge, 1 Tuiron plate cast, 1 Shamell plate, 1 Gage, 1 crackt wooden beame and scales, furnished, and triangles, 1 ton of W^tts, Pigs used for weights upon the bellows poises, 3½^c of Rawe Iron, 1 new firkett in the Backside, 1 lader of 14 rungs, 1 dozen of cole basketts, 2 Myne hammers, 2 Myne Shovells, 2 Coale Rakes, 2 Myne Rakes, 2 baskes to put myne into the Furnace.

“Parke Furnace.—The stone body thereof 22 foote square in the Front, 2 broken sowes, one taken thence, 2 sowes in the Wall.

“Repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, viz., the backe wall from the foundation to the top, and parte of the wall over the Bellows, 40^lb it cost.

“The Water Wheele 22^ft heigh, w^th a Shaft whereon 7 whops, 2 Gudgions and 2 brasses, built about the same tyme, in repaire, valued at 20^lb. The Furnace Howse tiled, built with stone wall 9 foot heigh, 22 foote square, the Roof good, built about the same tyme, in repair, saving a Lace by the Bridge. The stone worke valued at 10^lb. The Carpenter’s worke one the roofe at 20^s, the tilinge valued at 6^lb 13^s 4^d.

“A Pent house under the Furnace, 10^s.

“The Bridge House 42^ft longe, 22^ft broad, the said walles 8½ foot, covered with boards, double bottomed with plancke, upon stronge sleepers, valued at 40^lb.

“Fence Walls all built by the Farmers about 4 yeares since.

“100 Foote of trowes made of square timber, hollowed and covered with plancke, valued at 10^lb, made by the Farmers.

“Another Water course, built with stone one both sides and covered w^th planckes 2½ foot broad, 46 foot, in repaire, 5^lb.

“An Iron cast grate one the same watercourse.

“A watercourse of half a mile one the North of the Furnace, at the head thereof a dam and a small breach, wants soweringe, otherwise good, cutt by the Farmers, and cost them 20^lb, and will cost 3^lb.

“A Water course of above ½ mile to the South, made before their tyme.

“The Hutch built with stone and covered with plankes of 6 foot heigh, 3 foot broad, 70^ft, saving about 11 foot at the vent which is timber, repaired by the Farmers, in repaire, but the Courant stopt below with cinders, 13^lb 6^s 8^d; the cutting of a newe will cost 8^lb.

“The Fownder’s howse built before the Farmers’ tyme.

“A Cottage adjoininge.

“A Cabbyne for the bridge-server, covered with boards, built by them about a yeare since, 3 tonns, 18^ft longe, 11 broad, valued at 5^lb.

“A Cabbyne adjoining to the Furnace for the Furnace Keeper, about a Tonn, built by the Farmers, and valued at 2^lb.

“A Faire Howse, the ends stone built, the rest with Timber 50 foot longe, 16 broad; in it is a crosse building stories heigh, in repaire, tiled, built before the Farmers now granted, with 2 stables belonging, of tymber.

“A smale cottage, now William Wayt’s.

“A myne kilne, the inside in decay, the piggs of iron taken out of the draught thereof, the repaire will cost 2^lb.

“Tymber in doeinge of }
the saied worke.. } 150 Tonnes, worth vis viiid the tonne.

“Implemnts.—1 pr bellowes open with the furniture of iron thereto belonging, defective in the lethers, valued at 13^lb 6^s 8^d, the repaire will cost 10^lb.; 2 buckstaves, 1 dam-plate, 2 sinder plats, 1 tuiron plate, 1 plackett, 1 gadge, 1 tuiron hoocke, 1 dam hoocke or stopinge hoocke, 4 iron shovells, 9 ringers, 6 cole baskets, 2 wheel barrows, 2 myne hammers, 1 coale rake, 2 cinder raks, 1 great sledge, 1 ringer hammer, 1 constable, 1 shammell plate, 6 iron cambs.

“A beame with scales, hoocks, triangles, and lincks, with about ½ a ton of rawe iron for a w^t, in repaire; 1 sowe of iron of 16^cwt. which was in the front wall, soe now lyes before the doore, 5^lb.

“1 Grindstone, 2 bellowe boards, never used, and 4 old ones, 1^lb 10^s.

“Collyers’ Hurdles.

“The tymber ymployed about the said worke estimated at 140 tonns, and valued at 8^s the tonn, 56^lb.

“The Repaire of the body of the furnace and the buildings, beames thereto belonginge, and other defects, to make it fit to blowe, estimated at 60^lb.

“Parkend Forge—consistinge of 2 hamers, 3 Fyneryes, and 1 chaffery, repayered about 2 years since by the Farmers, viz., 2 newe drome beames, 2 great hamers, shafts with wheeles and armes all newe, the body of the forge repaired in sundry places, one of the fyneryes built newe with the whole and shafts.

“The harmes to the great hamers newe and in repaire, valued at 12^lb.

“One other finerye chimney, made within the yeare, 5^lb, 3 newe trowes through the bay, 26^ft longe a piece, covered with planke one the west side, 13^lb 6^s 8^d.

“The hamer hutch one the west side, heigh and broad one the one side, plancked in the bottome ranges of tymber with spreaders conteyninge 150 foote in length, 40^lb.

“The chaffery wheele in the west side, old and decayed, 3^lb to repaire it.

“One longe trowe one the est side leadinge the watter to the fynerye, 66 foote longe, 6^lb 13^s 4^d; another great trowe with a penstocke, 32 foote, cost 3^lb 6^s 8^d; 1 great penstocke in the hamer trowe, 14 foot longe, 2 foote square, 40^s.

“2 Water Pricke Posts with his laces, 4^lb.

“The Hamer Hutch one the west side, 4 foote square, bottoms and sides with plancks, 2 ranges of timber 150 foote longe, 10^lb.

“The bodye of one Fynerye wheele all newe, made within 2 yeares last past by the Farmers.

“One little house for the carpenter to work in one the bay.

“Two ranges of tymber worke in the lower side of the bay, consistinge of sils, laces, and posts, built by the Farmers within 2 yeares, 120 foote, 12 heigh, 80^lb.

“The front of the bay where the water is led to the west side and drawinge gates built about 2 years since. Stone walls on each side, 5^lb.

“A flowd gate with 6 sluices, strongly tymbered, built with stronge wall one either side thereof, 160 foote longe, 3^ft heigh, 3 foot thicke, aproned and plancked on the top for a bridge 3 years since, 44 foot longe, 22^ft broad, 50^lb.

The same careful investigator (Mr. Wyrrall) of every particular relating to the iron-works of the Forest formed a glossary of the terms used in the above specifications, which not only sufficiently explains them, but also shows that very similar apparatus continued to be used in this neighbourhood up to the close of the last century. It proceeds thus:—

“Sows of Iron are the long pieces of cast iron as they run into the sand immediately from the furnace; thus called from the appearance of this and the shorter pieces which are runned into smaller gutters made in the same sand, from the resemblance they have to a sow lying on her side with her pigs at her dugs. These are for working up in the forges; but it is usual to cast other sows of iron of very great size to lay in the walls of the furnaces as beams to support the great strain of the work.

“Dam Plate is a large flat plate of cast iron placed on its edge against the front of the furnace, with a stone cut sloping and placed on the inside. This plate has a notch on the top for the cinder or scruff to run off, and a place at the side to discharge the metal at casting.

“The Shaft of a wheel is a large round beam having the wheel fixed near the one end of it, and turning upon gudgeons or centres fixed in the two ends.

“The Furnace House I take to be what we call the casting house, where the metal runs out of the furnace into the sand.

“The Bridge is the place where the raw materials are laid down ready to be thrown into the furnace. I conceive that it had its name (which is still continued) from this circumstance—that in the infancy of these works it was built as a bridge, hollow underneath. It was not at first known what strength was required to support the blast of a furnace bellows; and the consequence was that they were often out of repair, and frequently obliged to be built almost entirely new.

“Bellows Boards—not very different from the present dimensions.

“Water Troughs—scooped out of the solid timber. This shows the great simplicity of these times, not 150 years ago.

“The Hutch, or as it is now corruptly called the Witch, a wide covered drain below the furnace-wheel to carry off the water from it, usually arched, but here only covered with timbers to support the rubbish and earth thrown upon it.

“Cambs are iron cogs fixed in the shaft to work the bellows as the wheel turns round.

“Cinder Shovels, iron shovels for taking up the cinders into the boxes, both to measure them and to fill the furnace.

“Moulding Ship, an iron tool fixed on a wooden handle, so formed as to make the gutters in the sand for casting the pig and sow iron.

“Casting Ladles, made hollow like a dish, with a lip to lade up the liquid iron for small castings.

“Wringers, large long bars of iron to wring the furnace, that is to clear it of the grosser and least fluid cinder which rises on the upper surface, and would there coagulate and soon prevent the furnace from working aright.

“Constable, a bar of very great substance and length, kept always lying by a furnace in readiness for extraordinary purposes in which uncommon strength and purchase were required. I suppose this name to have been given to this tool on account of its superior bulk and power, and in allusion to the Constable of St. Briavel’s Castle, an officer heretofore of very great weight and consequence in this Forest.

“Cinder Hook, a hook of iron for drawing away the scruff or cinder which runs liquid out of the furnace over the dam plate, and soon becomes a solid substance, which must be removed to make room for fresh cinder to run out into its place.

“Plackett, a tool contrived as a kind of trowel for smoothing and shaping the clay.

“Buckstones, now called Buckstaves, are two thick plates of iron, about 5 or 6 feet long, fixed one on each side of the front of the furnace down to the ground to support the stone work.

“Iron Tempe is a plate fixed at the bottom of the front wall of the furnace over the flame between the buck-staves.

“Tuiron Plate is a plate of cast iron fixed before the noses of the bellows, and so shaped as to conduct the blast into the body of the furnace.

“Tuiron Hooke, a tool contrived for conveying a lump of tempered clay before the point of the tuiron plate, to guard the wall from wearing away as it would otherwise do in that part, there being the greatest force of the fire.

“Shammel Plate, a piece of cast iron fixed on a wooden frame, in the shape of a ──│, which works up and down as a crank, so as for the camb to lay hold of this iron, and thereby press down the bellows.

“Firketts are large square pieces of timber laid upon the upper woods of the bellows, to steady it and to work it.

“Firkett Hooks, two strong hooks of square wrought iron fixed at the smallest end of the bellows to keep it firm and in its place.

“Gage, two rods of iron jointed in the middle, with a ring for the filler to drop the shortest end into the furnace at the top, to know when it is worked down low enough to be charged again.

“Poises, wooden beams, one over each bellows, fixed upon centres across another very large beam; at the longest end of these poises are open boxes bound with iron, and the little end being fixed with harness to the upper ends of the firketts are thus pressed down, and the bellows with it by the working of the wheel, while the weight of the poises lifts them up alternately as the wheel goes round.”

No. V — Dr. Parson’s Description of the Mode of Making Iron

“After they have provided their ore, their first work is to calcine it, which is done in kilns, much after the fashion of our ordinary lime-kilns; these they fill up to the top with coal and ore untill it be full, and so putting fire to the bottom, they let it burn till the coal be wasted, and then renew the kilnes with fresh ore and coal: this is done without any infusion of mettal, and serves to consume the more drossy part of the ore, and to make it fryable, supplying the beating and washing, which are to no other mettals; from hence they carry it to their furnaces, which are built of brick and stone, about 24 foot square on the outside, and near 30 foot in hight within, and not above 8 or 10 foot over where it is widest, which is about the middle, the top and bottom having a narrow compass, much like the form of an egg. Behind the furnace are placed two high pair of bellows, whose noses meet at a little hole near the bottom: these are compressed together by certain buttons placed on the axis of a very large wheel, which is turned round by water, in the manner of an overshot mill. As soon as these buttons are slid off, the bellows are raised again by a counterpoise of weights, whereby they are made to play alternately, the one giving its blast whilst the other is rising.

“At first they fill these furnaces with ore and cinder intermixt with fuel, which in these works is always charcoal, laying them hollow at the bottom, that they may the more easily take fire; but after they are once kindled, the materials run together into an hard cake or lump, which is sustained by the furnace, and through this the mettal as it runs trickles down the receivers, which are placed at the bottom, where there is a passage open, by which they take away the scum and dross, and let out their mettal as they see occasion. Before the mouth of the furnace lyeth a great bed of sand, where they make furrows of the fashion they desire to cast their iron: into these, when the receivers are full, they let in their mettal, which is made so very fluid by the violence of the fire, that it not only runs to a considerable distance, but stands afterwards boiling a great while.

“After these furnaces are once at work, they keep them constantly employed for many months together, never suffering the fire to slacken night or day, but still supplying the waste of fuel and other materials with fresh, poured in at the top.

“Several attempts have been made to bring in the use of the sea coal in these works instead of charcoal; the former being to be had at an easy rate, the latter not without a great expence; but hitherto they have proved ineffectual, the workmen finding by experience that a sea coal fire, how vehement soever, will not penetrate the most fixed parts of the ore, by which means they leave much of the mettal behind them unmelted.

“From these furnaces they bring the sows and piggs of iron, as they call them, to their forges; these are two sorts, though they stood together under the same roof; one they call their finery, and the other chafers: both of them are upon hearths, upon which they place great heaps of sea coal, and behind them bellows like those of the furnaces, but nothing near so large.

“In such finerys they first put their piggs of iron, placing three or four of them together, behind the fire, with a little of one end thrust into it, where softening by degrees they stir and work them with long barrs of iron till the mettal runs together in a round masse or lump, which they call an half bloome: this they take out, and giving it a few strokes with their sledges, they carry it to a great weighty hammer, raised likewise by the motion of a water-wheel, where applying it dexterously to the blows, they presently beat it into a thick short square; this they put into the finery again, and heating it red hot, they work it under the same hammer till it comes to the shape of a bar in the middle, with two square knobs in the ends; last of all they give it other beatings in the chaffers, and more workings under the hammer, till they have brought their iron into barrs of several shapes, in which fashion they expose them to sale.

“All their principal iron undergoes the aforementioned preparations, yet for several other purposes, as for backs of chimneys, hearths of ovens, and the like, they have a sort of cast iron, which they take out of the receivers of the furnace, so soon as it is melted, in great ladles, and pour it into the moulds of fine sand in like manner as they do cast brass and softer mettals; but this sort of iron is so very brittle, that, being heated with one blow of the hammer, it breaks all to pieces.”

No. VI — Being Minutes, &c., of the Court of Mine Law

“Forest of Deane to witt.

Att a Court of Mine and Miners of Our Sovereign Lord the King, held att the Speech-ouse, in and for the Forest of Deane, on Tuesday the 13^th day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight, before Christopher Bond, Esq^r, and Thomas James, gentleman, deputyes to the Right Honourable Augustus, Earl of Berkeley, Constable of the Castle of S^t Briavels, in the County of Gloucester, Christopher Bond, Esq^r, gaveller of the said mines, and Phillip Elly, deputy gaveller of the said mines.

“The names of the Jury.—Richard Powell, Simon Bannister, George Thomas, Frances Dutheridge, William Kerr, Richard Hawkins, Joseph Cooper, Samuel Kerr, Henry Roberts, William Meeke, Richard Tingle, James Teague.

“William Gagg otherwise Smith, and his Vearns, against James Bennett and his Vearns.

We leave this to the best proof & the order.

“I complaine against William Gagge and his Vearns for hindering our levell and doing of us willfull trespas, whereby we have sustained great damage, att a stone (lime) coale worke called Churchway, otherwise Turnbrooke, in the Hundred of Saint Briavels, (as this,) they hindered the levell, and deepwall they would not bring forward to our new pit that was then just downe. I asked them the reason, and they told me it was to make coale scarce and men plenty; they went back sixteen or eighteen weeks into their scale, contrary to the rule and custom of all free miners beneath the wood with us; and likewise before, they hindered the levell in their new deepit. And wilfully more they cut up to their land gutter, and tooke in the water by a single sticken gutter in their backer deep pit, and turned it across the bottom of our deep pit into our air gutter, which we prepared for ourselves and them, whereby our lamping the charks was swelled downe, and have destroyed the air, and filled our gateway with water and sludge, and very likely to destroy the levells, and put us by getting a scale of coale there. And by their so doing, I and my vearnes are dampnified thirty pounds. All this I will prove myself and by evidence in the King’s mine.”

Another suit, dated 20th January, 1753, is also subjoined:—

“William Dukes and his vernes, plaintiffs, against William Keare and his vernes, defendants.

We leave this to the best evidence.

“We complain against William Keare and his vernes for wrongfully forbidding us out of a stone coal work, called the Gentlemen Colliers, within the Hundred of S^t Briavels, that we should not get any coal of the deep side of our former work, which coal our levell drains, and ours being the most ancient level. We have attended the place, and burned our light, according to our laws and customs, and through this wrong forbidd we are dampnified five pounds. And whereas several forbidds have been given before, we, the aforesaid plaintiffs and defendants, left the same to the determination of Charles Godwin and Richard James, and we the said plaintiffs have duly observed the said determination, and that the said defendants have gone contrary to an order made by 48 free miners in getting of coal that our levell would have drained, and have dampnified our levell, whereby they have forfeited the penalty of the said Order. And this we will prove by evidence, and the damages in getting coal we will leave to the Order in C^t.

“We deny the forbid given to him or his vernes. We forbidd them in getting any coal betwixt our work and theirs, except their levell could dry it fairly. There was an agreement betwixt us, and they went contrary to the agreement, and this we will prove ourselves and by witnesses.”

Here is a copy of an Agreement, resembling no doubt the one mentioned above:—

“August the 8^th.—In the ear of our Lord 1754. Aun award, or an Agreement, made by Richard Powell, John Jenkins, W^m Thomas, Tho^s Worgan, and James Elsmore, betwixt James Bennet and his vearns, belonging to a coale work called by the name off Upper Rockey, and Robert Tingle and his vearnes, belonging to the Inging Coale Work near the Nail Bridge, within the Hunderd of Saint Bravewells; and we have farther agreed that the fore said James Bennet and his vearns shall have the liberty of getting what coale their leavel will dry without being interrupted, but they shall not get coale by the strength of hauling or laveing of water within the bounds of Robert Tingle and his vearns, except to drowl their work, under the forfet of the sum of five pounds; and we do farther agree that Robert Tingle and his vearns shall com in at any time to see if they do carry on their work in a proper manner without trespassing them; and if the foresaid James Bennet and his vearns do interrupt them for comming in to see their work, they shall forfeit the sum of five pounds. And we do order the partys to stand to their expenses share share alike, and the viewers to be paid between both partys, which his fifteen shillings.

“The mark of X Richd Powell.

“The mark of X John Jenkins.

“The mark of X James Elsmore.

“The mark of X W^m Thomas.

“The mark of X Thos Worgan.”

The following is a specimen of an official “Forbid:”—

“Thomas Hobbs. I do hereby, in his Majesty King George the Third’s name, being owner and chief gaveller of his Majesty’s Forest of Dean, in the county of Gloucester, and of the coal and mines therein, forbid you, your verns, your servants, agents, or workmen, for getting, diging, or raising any more stone coal out of any fire pitt or pitts, or water pitt or pitts, a deep the Majors suff level gutter in the said Forest, or to permit or suffer any stone coal to be got, dug, or raised out of any such pitt or pitts, untill you have satisfied and paid me his Majesty’s gale and dues for working and getting coal in such pitts for two years last past, and untill you agree with me for the gale and dues of such pitt and pitts for the future. If you break this forbid, you will incur the penalty of an Order made by forty-eight free miners.

“Dated this 22d day of } John Robinson, &c.,
May, 1775. } deputy gaveller.”

In the terms of a Memorandum, apparently of this date, or perhaps earlier, it is said:—

“The place of gaveler within the Forest of Dean is held by patent from the Crown, & by vertue of his office the gaveler hath a right to put a man to work in every coalwork or work for iron mine within the limitts of the Forest, or within any private person’s property in the hundred of S^t Briavels (but not in any stone quarry that is belonging to L^d Berkeley). This right the gaveler never makes use of by setting his man to work in the mine pitt or coalwork, but lets it out to the partners of the work at such price as he can agree for, which is from twenty shillings to three pounds a work.”

Notes.

2 It is absolutely certain that the stone may be made to oscillate: indeed one of the Hadnock woodmen states that when sufficient force is applied to it, at the proper point, you can even hear the gravel grinding underneath.

4 A corruption, apparently, of the British word “crowll,” meaning “caves.”

12 We must, however, remember, in calculating the price of labour in the middle ages, that the value of money was about fifteen times greater than at present; and the coins, which were of silver, were double their present weight.

16 Of these lands the Rev. G. Ridout, the Vicar, has kindly furnished the following list:—

	Acres
Land near English Bicknor, “Hoarthorns,” containing	199
„ „ Lydbrook „	21
„ Ruardean „	13
„ „ „	81
„ Flaxley, Little Dean „	94
„ Abbenhall, “Loquiers” „	51
„ Hope Mansel „	41
„ Weston „	37
„ Lea and Longhope „	90
„ Lydney and Blackney „	329
„ Paster, Nels, and Whitecroft „	507
„ Ellwood „	134
„ Whitemead „	220
„ Bream „	213
	----
	2030

18 See ante, p. 7 and 13.

25 See post, p. 116.

27 One of them, as a specimen, will be found in the Appendix No. II.

85 The meat market there is reported to have been much injured long before this time, by the singular circumstance of a murderer, named Eli Hatton, having been gibbeted on Pingry Tump, a point on the Forest hills overlooking the town, the flies from the body being supposed to resort to the meat on the butchers’ stalls. The body was cut down in the night time, but the stump of the gallows is yet remembered by old inhabitants as “Eli’s Post,” and as a spot to be avoided, especially at night.

87 Mr. C. Meek, of the Morse, has ascertained that Lord Nelson spent the 20th, 21st, 22nd of August, 1802, at Rudhall House, near Ross.

89 See page 79.

95 Drawings of the mice were made and sent to Lord Glenbervie.

111 Warren James was concealed in a coal-pit on Breem’s Eaves, and was induced to come up by Thos. Watkins, who had the reward offered for his apprehension. With the exception of his conduct on this occasion, he was a man of good character, and a dutiful and affectionate son to an aged mother, who was supported by him.

118 The map at page 15 exhibits the direction taken on this occasion.

122 To such a scheme the chief objection, in the words of the Hon. Thomas Frankland Lewis, appeared to be, that, “unless guarded against by some special provisions, the land will become subject to all the abuses which are so much complained of as to charity lands in general. It is altogether unlike a fund to be raised when and as it is wanted; there it is, and it must and will create objects on which to bestow itself, if it does not find them.” The proposition was consequently not carried into effect.

126 These three gentlemen opened their commission on Wednesday the 5th of September following, at Coleford, and after successive meetings it was there finally closed on Monday, the 20th of July, 1841.

149a The same stick was usually employed, being considered by long usage as consecrated to the purpose.

149b A pleasing emblem of such improvement seems manifested in the following lines of Richard Morse (a young native Forester), on a “Primrose found in a natural arbour among the large oaks in the Forest.”

“Pretty little lonely flower,
How I love thy modest blow!
Ever grace this little bower,
Here in safety ever grow.

“And, if tempted by ambition
E’er to leave my humble cot,
May I learn from thee submission
To be happy with my lot.

“For while storms spread desolation
‘Mong the lofty trees around,
In thy lowly situation
Peace and safety may be found.

“So, when states and empires shaking
Bid the rich and great beware,
I, comparatively speaking,
Am secure from strife and care.

“Though the wintry blast should wither
Thy pale blow—thy leaves decay,
Gales, the first that spring sends hither,
Thy perfume shall bear away.

“And like thee, I too shall perish,
When my life’s brief summer ’s o’er;
But there is a hope I cherish,
To be blest for evermore.

“Winter past, so drear and hoary,
Thou again wilt spring and bloom:
So I hope to rise in glory
From the darkness of the tomb.”

151 The preservation of the existing crop depends mainly upon the practical inculcation of this principle.

152 “River Jordan” occurs in the neighbouring parish registers many times during the last 150 years; also “Providence Potter;” one of whose representatives, a sad drunken fellow, once went to his humane squire in great distress. The worthy gentleman, after suggesting various expedients, but to no purpose, at last said—“Well! he could see nothing for it but to trust in Providence.” “Lord bless ye, Sir, why, Providence has been dead these ten years.”

163 The Author has had the satisfaction of promoting the erection of a tablet in Holy Trinity Church, to the memory of a man who had been so useful in his generation.

172 This liberal gift may be regarded as a fitting memorial of Mr. Machen’s fifty years’ services in connexion with the Forest.

189 Our best thanks are due to Sir Martin Crawley Boevey, the present Baronet, by whom many of the incidents in this chapter have been communicated.

191 It is built of the two Forest stones—the red grit with grey stone facings, the stonework throughout being executed in the most perfect manner. The edifice consists of a chancel, nave, and N. aisle, with open oak roofs, covered with Broseley tile, with crease tiles, and the gables are mounted with rich floriated crosses. At the N.W. angle of the building rises in beautiful proportion the tower, capped with a shingle broach spire. The chancel is furnished with a sedile, credence-niche, stalls, reading desk, and lectern. The 3-light E. window by Gerente contains, in twelve compartments, a Personal History of Our Saviour, suggested by the verses in the Litany:—“By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation... and by the coming of the Holy Ghost.” The other windows, all different in their tracery, are of Powell’s quarry glass. The alabaster reredos by Philip exhibits in its three medallions the Feeding of the Multitude, the Institution of the Holy Communion, and the Agony in the Garden; and on the E. wall are illuminated, by Castell, of London, the Lord’s Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed. The pulpit and font are of Painswick stone, with serpentine marble shafts; and the chancel rails, stalls, open seats, together with an exquisitely worked south porch, are of massive oak.

197 The new road over the Plump Hill in its formation exposed an ancient mine-hole, in which was found a heap of half-consumed embers, and the skull of what appeared from its tusks to be a wild boar, the fragments perhaps of a feast partaken of by our Forest ancestors.

198 One, or perhaps two roads, traversing the Forest from north to south, are yet wanting for public accommodation.

216 Amongst the Patent Rolls of Henry III., dated 1238, occurs one entitled “de forgeis levandis in Foresta de Dean.”

235 At all times obligingly permitted to the Author by Mr. John Atkinson, the Queen’s Gaveller.

[264] This large Oak is called “Jack of the Yat.” Yat means gate here. It is probably 500 years old. It was struck by lightning a few years since.

265a In Sallow Vallets, a quarter of a mile below the Lodge; 90 yards round the outside of the branches.

265b This tree about eight feet from the ground separates into two large branches, or rather distinct trees; the rent or chasm in the trunk grows wider, and we have now (i.e. in 1847) fastened the limbs together with iron to prevent its breaking into two parts.

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