A.D. 1800-1831.
Lord Nelson's remarks on the Forest--Free miners endeavour to restore
their Court of Mine Law--White Mead Park planted--Act of 1808,
authorising the replanting of the Forest; six commissioners appointed for
that purpose--Six enclosures formed in 1810--Mice--Inquiry as to the best
mode of felling timber--Last of the enclosures formed 1816--First Forest
church consecrated--High Meadow Woods purchased--General condition of the
Forest--Unsuccessful efforts to restore the encroachments to the
Crown--Plantations mended over--Ellwood and the Great Doward Estates
purchased--The blight--Single trees planted out by the roads--Blight on
the oaks.
There is a statement of Lord Nelson's relating to this Forest, written
about the year 1802, {87} in which he says: "Nothing in it can grow
self-sown, for the deer bark all the young trees. Vast droves of hogs
are allowed to go into the woods in the autumn, and if any fortunate
acorn escapes their search, and takes root, then flocks of sheep are
allowed to go into the Forest, and they bite off the tender shoot." He
speaks of "a set of people called Forest free miners, who consider
themselves as having a right to dig for coal in any part they please,"
adding that "trees which die of themselves are considered as of no value
to the Crown. A gentleman told me," (he says,) "that in shooting on foot
(for on horseback it cannot be seen, being hid by the fern, which grows a
great height), the trees of fifty years' growth, fit for buildings,
fencings, &c., are cut just above ground entirely through the bark, and
in two years die," so becoming a perquisite to the authorities. Lord
Nelson calculated that the Forest would sell for 460,000 pounds. He
forcibly concludes: "The reason why timber has of late years been so much
reduced has been uniformly told me--that, from the pressure of the times,
gentlemen who had 1000 to 5000 pounds worth of timber on their estates,
although only half grown (say fifty years of age), were obliged to sell
it to raise temporary sums--say to pay off legacies. The owner cannot,
however sorry he may feel to see the beauty of his place destroyed, and
what would be treble the value to his children annihilated, help himself.
It has struck me forcibly that if Government could form a plan to
purchase of such gentlemen the growing oak, it would be a national
benefit, and a great and pleasing accommodation to such growers of oak as
wish to sell."
Mr. Fordyce's second report, as Surveyor-General of the Land Revenues of
the Crown, appeared on the 14th of December, 1802; but neither this nor
his third, dated the 4th of March, 1806, says anything about the Forest
of Dean. In 1807 the free miners of the district held a meeting, at
which a resolution was passed, earnestly requesting the wardens of the
Forest to hold a Court of Mine Law, as soon as possible, with the view of
regulating the levels, pits, and engines.
Mr. Fordyce's fourth and final report appeared on the 6th of April, 1809,
but it only speaks of the Forest so far as related to the lands called
"Whitemead Park," hitherto in the occupation of Lord Berkeley, but whose
lease would expire in January, 1808, and was sought to be renewed. The
Surveyor-General declined complying with the request for renewal, upon
the ground that the Park was unfavourably situated for farming purposes,
and that the buildings on it were in very bad repair; whereas a large
quantity of very fine timber, valued at 11,736 pounds, had grown up on
the land, proving the excellence of the soil for that purpose; besides
which, it was situated in the midst of the Forest, and Mr. Fordyce
determined to plant the whole of it with oak at the earliest opportunity.
This circumstance appears to have stimulated the Government to commence
in good earnest the forming of plantations, in accordance with the
suggestions made in the Commissioners' Report of 1788, {89} which had
been kept in view ever since, and as authorized by the old Acts of the
20th of Charles II. c. 3, and 9 and 10 William III. c. 36.
The propriety, however, of acting upon these old enactments was now
doubted, as they had been so long overlooked or irregularly executed; and
hence the declaratory Act of the 48th of George III., c. 72, was passed
in 1808, confirming the original power to enclose 11,000 acres, as well
as legalizing the enclosures of Buckholt, Stapledge, Birchwood, and Acorn
Patch, formed a few years previously, containing altogether 676 acres,
and making it felony to persist in breaking down any of the fences
belonging to the same. The above-named enclosures were the only ones
then existing. The Buckholt principally contained beech; Stapledge was
thinly stocked with oak, except on the north side, and there called
Little Stapledge, on which there was plenty; and Birchwood had some
clusters of natural young oaks scattered about it. The Acorn Patch was
well filled with thriving young oaks about 25 years old. The same Act
likewise directed that the contemplated plantations should be marked out
under the supervision of not less than six Commissioners, who were named
as follows:--
Lord Glenbervie, Surveyor General
of Woods, &c.
R. Fanshaw, Esq., of Plymouth
Dockyard.
Right Hon. C. Bathurst, Lydney }
Park,
The Rev. Thomas Birt, Newland, } Magistrates
The Rev. Richard Wetherell, }
Westbury,
Sir William Guise, Highnam, }
Joseph Pyrke, Esq., Little Dean, } Verderers
Edmund Probyn, Esq., Newland, }
Roynon Jones, Esq., Hay Hill, }
Edward Kent, Esq., Itinerant
Deputy Surveyor.
Edward Machen, Esq., Deputy
Surveyor.
The connexion with the Forest of two of these gentlemen, viz. Lord
Glenbervie as Surveyor-General, and Mr. Machen as Deputy-Surveyor, dates
from this period; and to their joint exertions, aided by the official
labours of Mr. Milne, his Lordship's excellent secretary, and at length
one of the three Commissioners of Woods, &c., the existing enclosures owe
their formation as well as their present promising condition; but
especially to Mr. Machen is the credit due, as being the result of his
able and conscientious management of the Forest for well nigh half a
century.
With a prospective reference to the plantations shortly to be made, the
most laudable pains were taken by Lord Glenbervie to ascertain the best
mode of planting and raising the young trees. He truly remarks that "the
space of nearly 100 years must elapse before the success or failure of
any plan adopted in the cultivation and management of oak timber for the
navy can be clearly ascertained, during the whole of which time a
persevering attention and uniformity of system in the execution of the
plan adopted would be equally requisite, in fact through a succession
perhaps of three or four generations." His Lordship made extensive
inquiries whether acorns or plants should be first used, or rather some
of each; what was the best age and size for transplanting; if plants or
trees of any other kind should be set with them, or in places where oaks
would not thrive; at what distance apart should they be planted; ought
the soil to be cleared or dug, or how prepared; are the old trees to be
removed, and the stumps of oak or beech suffered to remain?
On the 23rd of July, 1808, the general principle agreed upon in these
respects was, "to plant an intermixture of acorns and oak-trees, with a
very small proportion of Spanish chesnuts; so that, if either the acorns
or young oaks should succeed, a sufficient crop might be expected, and to
plant no trees of any other sorts, except in spots where it should be
thought that oaks would not grow, and which it might be necessary to
include, in order to avoid the expense of fencing, or for shelter in high
and exposed situations." The first enclosures were planted agreeably to
this method, only afterwards it was found necessary to set young oaks
instead of acorns, few of these only coming up.
Lord Glenbervie also interested himself in some experiments for testing
the transplanting of young trees of various ages, selecting Acorn Patch
in the centre of the Forest for the purpose. The annexed table, carried
on to 1846, gives the result:--
A. transplanted at 16 years of age }
B. transplanted at 23 years of age } girth at 6 ft. from the ground.
C. not transplanted at all }
A. B. C.
Sep. 14, 1809 7.625 Inches. 7 Inches. 11.75 Inches.
Oct. 5, 1814 14.75 ,, 11 ,, 15.625 ,,
Oct. 20, 1820 23.825 ,, 19 ,, 19.825 ,,
,, 1826 32.125 ,, 27.75 ,, 23 ,,
,, 1830 40.5 ,, 35.75 ,, 26.5 ,,
,, 1836 48.75 ,, 39.5 ,, 30 ,,
,, 1840 53.25 ,, 42.5 ,, 32.5 ,,
,, 1846 60.5 ,, 47.75 ,, 36.5 ,,
More as a satisfaction to the Government before making the new
plantations, than as a guide to the commissioners, most of whom knew the
Forest intimately, Messrs. Driver were now directed to examine the
condition and situation of the woods and woodlands, and to report
thereon. They began by numbering the timber trees in succession, and had
reached 1,000, when the proceedings were put a stop to, on account of the
consumption of time and money which such an elaborate plan was found to
involve, and they briefly reported that the Forest seemed to contain
22,882 loads of oak timber, that only one third of the existing
enclosures were fully stocked, and that encroachments were rapidly
spreading.
On the 15th of September in the ensuing year, 1809, the first meeting of
the above-named commissioners was held at Newnham, when 2,000 acres in
various parts of the Forest were selected for planting, and such
directions given that the 240 acres of White Mead Park were actually
planted this season, just in time to afford Mr. Fordyce the satisfaction
of living to know that the good work of renewing the Forest with oak, in
accordance with his recommendation made twenty years before, was in fact
begun, for at this date his useful life was brought to a close.
Referring to the list of licences granted by the Crown this year, 1809,
it appears that the first effort was now made to prepare the slag and
cinders from the iron furnaces for the use of the Bristol bottle-glass
manufacture, by reducing them to powder in a stamping mill, one of which
was erected at Park End by Messrs. Kear, under a licence dated 23rd of
September. To this year also is to be referred the introduction of
tramways by two companies, designated "The Severn and Wye Railway
Company," and "The Bullo Pill Company." The road belonging to the former
of them traverses the western valley of the Forest from Lydney to
Lydbrook, a distance of fourteen miles, and the latter the eastern, but
both communicating with the Severn, although at points six miles apart.
The licence for the line ascending from Bullo Pill describes it as
designed to extend up to the Churchway engine, seven miles off. It was
constructed under a private Act obtained by Sir James Jelf and his
partners.
In the course of the next year, _i.e._ 1810, the Enclosure Commissioners
authorized the construction of the following five plantations:--
A. R. P.
Barn Hill, 353 2 3 near Coleford.
containing
Serridge 387 3 24 ,, Lydbrook.
,,
Beechen 308 2 36 ,, Serridge.
Hurst ,,
Haywood ,, 407 1 34 ,, Abbenhall.
Holly Hill 41 0 38 ,, Cinderford.
,,
---- -- --
1498 3 15
The planting of them was intrusted to Mr. Driver, upon his own plan,
which was to dig holes four feet apart every way, or 2,722 in an acre,
and to plant an acorn in every hole but the tenth, in it substituting an
oak-tree of five years old. The holes for the acorns were dug fifteen
inches square and nine inches deep; but those for the young trees were
made eighteen inches square and twelve inches deep. The acorns cost 8s.
per 1,000, and the trees 70s. per 1,000. One tree out of every 100 was a
five years old Spanish chesnut. So that planting the enclosures in this
way cost about 3 pounds 15s. per acre, and the seedlings about 4 pounds
5s., which Mr. Driver was to mend over, and to keep the plants good for
three years. The fences were to consist of a bank five feet high, with a
row of French furze at the top and bottom, or where impracticable a dry
wall instead. The most flourishing timber in the Forest at this period
appears to have been that growing on Church Hill, averaging 73 trees to
the acre, each tree containing 58 feet of timber. The Severn and Wye
Tramway, commenced last year, was extended in this, with the addition of
a line from Monmouth up to Howler's Slade.
In 1811 only one plantation, viz. "Crab-tree Hill," comprising 372 acres
2 roods 34 poles, was formed, and planted similarly to the last; but the
Enclosure Commissioners set out a considerable extent of land to be taken
in and planted. On the 28th of November steam engines were licensed to
be erected at Birches Well, Ivy Moorhead, "the Independent," Upper
Bilson, two at "the Old Engine," and two at "No Fold." In the next year
also two steam engines were licensed to be put up at Churchway Colliery,
and a third at "Strip-and-at-it" Colliery. The following enclosures were
made in 1812, viz.--
A. R. P.
Shute 158 3 35 near Bream.
Castle
Bromley 258 3 13 ,, Park End.
Chesnuts 163 2 13 ,, Flaxley.
Sallow 397 2 33 ,, Lydbrook.
Vallets
Ruerdean 313 3 19 ,, Ruerdean.
Hill
Additional 14 3 29 ,, Coleford.
to Buckholt
---- -- --
1307 3 22
These enclosures were not planted, however, like the former ones; since,
from the exuberance of weeds, and the ravages of mice, &c., that method
had failed, three-fourths of the acorns never appearing, and many of
those that did come up were too weak to make their way through the other
more luxuriant growth that overwhelmed and choked them. But these
enclosures, according to a second agreement made with Mr. Driver, as
likewise all the future ones, were planted with seedling oaks instead of
acorns, care being taken to clear the holes once or twice, and only the
tenth trees were introduced as before. The Buckholt was planted with
three years old oaks, from the woodmen's nurseries.
The first general report of the Commissioners of Woods, &c., appointed
under the Acts of 34th George III., c. 75, and 50th George III., c. 65,
was made on the 4th of June, 1812, and was signed "Glenbervie, W. D.
Adams, Henry Dawkins."
It says little respecting this Forest, merely alluding to it in common
with the other royal forests, as fitted to take its place in supplying
timber to the navy, which required 88,659 loads annually, a quantity so
large as to be equivalent to 1,000 acres of oak a century old. In their
present state the Royal Forests could not supply a tenth part of this
amount, and would always be deficient unless 1,000 acres were planted
every year for the next 100 years, by which time the above quantity might
be annually felled. Ere this year ended, the Enclosure Commissioners
concluded their labours of setting out the rest of the 11,000 acres in
Dean Forest.
The plantations made the ensuing year of 1813 were--
A. R. P.
Oaken Hill 477 2 11 near Park End.
Park Hill 141 0 26 ,, Park End.
Blakeney 816 1 0 ,, Blakeney.
Hill
---- -- --
1434 3 37
Permission was also given to the Severn and Wye Tramroad Company to
construct a branch to the colliery at the Ivy Moore Head, as well as to
Messrs. Protheroe to erect a steam engine at "Catch Can." The area of
the encroachments in the Forest in 1813, and which had at that time been
taken in more than twenty years, amounted to 1,610 acres 2 roods 18
poles, divided into 2,239 patches, on which were 785 houses, occupied by
1,111 persons.
In 1814 the three following extensive enclosures were made:--
A. R. P.
Stapledge 943 2 17 near Cinderford.
Nag's Head 809 2 4 ,, Coleford.
Hill
Russell's 990 0 16 ,, Park End.
The last of them, being the largest in the Forest, was not regularly
planted, but left for the most part to natural growth.
It was during this year especially, but to a certain degree also in the
preceding and succeeding ones, that this Forest and the New Forest were
visited with an enormous number of mice. They appeared in all parts, but
particularly in Haywood enclosure, destroying a very large proportion of
the young trees, so much so that only four or five plants to an acre were
found uninjured by them. The roots of five years old oaks and chesnuts
were generally eaten through just below the surface of the ground, or
wherever their runs proceeded. Sometimes they were found to have barked
the young hollies round the bottom, or were seen feeding on the bark of
the upper branches. These mice were of two kinds, the common long-tailed
field mouse, and the short-tailed. There were about fifty of these
latter sort to one of the former. The long-tailed mice had all white
breasts, and the tail was about the same length as the body. {95} These
were chiefly caught on the wet greens in the Forest, and the short-tailed
were caught both on the wet and dry grounds.
A variety of means were resorted to for their destruction, such as cats,
poisons, and traps, but with little success. A Mr. Broad, who had been
employed by the Admiralty, and had been successful, in killing the rats
and mice in the fleet, was sent down, and tried several plans, all of
which failed. At last, a miner living on Edge Hills, named Simmons, came
forward, and said that he had often, when sinking wells or pits, found
mice fallen in, and dead, in consequence of their endeavours to extricate
themselves, and he had little doubt that the same plan would succeed in
the Forest. It was tried, and holes were dug over the enclosures about
two feet deep, and the same size across, and rather hollowed out at the
bottom, and at the distance of about twenty yards apart, into which the
mice fell, and were unable to get out again. Simmons and others were
employed, and paid by the numbers of tails which they brought in, which
amounted in the whole to more than 100,000. In addition to this it may
be mentioned that polecats, kites, hawks, and owls visited the holes
regularly, and preyed upon the mice caught in them; and a small owl,
called by Pennant, Strix passerina, never known in the Forest before or
since, appeared at that time, and was particularly active in their
destruction. The mice in the holes also ate each other.
Four more steam engines were allowed to be erected about the close of
this year at Palmer's Flat and at Hopewell.
Proceeding to the following year, we find that in 1815 the number of
plantations was increased by the addition of--
A. R. P.
Leonard's 66 0 32 near Cinderford.
Hill,
containing
Edge Hills 494 1 36 ,, Little
Dean.
Cock Shot 598 0 22 ,, Blakeney.
Yew-tree 183 0 0 ,, Cinderford.
Brake
---- -- --
1341 3 10
Two years before this time the Admiralty had called the attention of the
Commissioners of Woods, &c., to the most proper means of improving the
durability of oak timber, which had always been supposed to be best
secured by its being felled in winter, although, owing to its involving
the loss of the bark, the practice had not become general. To avoid such
loss it was determined, on the 15th of March this year, that the bark
should be stripped in the spring from the trees standing, leaving them to
be felled in the ensuing or some subsequent spring, five shillings per
load being allowed for the additional trouble occasioned thereby. But
this determination was not formed without careful investigation and
experiment. Thus in the previous year (1814) thirty trees were marked
and set apart in each of the Royal Forests, "which were divided into five
classes: three of the classes were stripped standing, but with some
variety in method, and left to be felled in winter; the second class was
felled, but left with the bark on; and the third felled, and then
immediately afterwards stripped in the usual way." But the results of
these different methods are not stated.
Licences to erect machinery were granted in the preceding year to Messrs.
Kear for a waterwheel at Park End in connexion with a mill for pounding
slag from the iron furnaces, and to Mr. Mushet for a steam engine at
Deepfield, and to Mr. John Protheroe for an engine at Whitelay Colliery;
and in the present year two steam engines were licensed at Upper Bilson
by Mr. Thomas Bennett, and one at Smith's Folly by Mr. Glover.
In the course of the succeeding year (1816) the last of the enclosures,
as set out by the commissioners appointed under the Act of 1808, were
completed, viz.--
A. R. P.
Perch, 386 1 15 near Coleford.
containing
Aston 475 0 4 ,, Lydbrook.
Bridge
Kinsley 376 1 27 ,, the Speech
Ridge House.
---- -- --
Total 1237 3 6
The second report of the Commissioners of Woods, dated the 18th of May,
and signed by Wm. Huskisson, Wm. Dacres Adams, Henry Dawkins, states
"that 9,389 acres of this Forest had been enclosed and planted, the
remaining 1,611 acres, making up the 11,000, being partly fenced, and
would be shut in the next year, viz. 1816, making the total number of
enclosures upwards of thirty. Besides which 240 acres of Whitemead Park
had been appropriated (1809) to the growth of timber, as also 120 acres
adjoining the different lodges, as well as 120 acres of the open Forest,
where trees twenty-five or thirty feet high had been planted, and were
doing very well. The cost of these operations, since 1808, was 59,172
pounds 5s. 10d."
To this period belongs the interesting circumstance of the then Bishop of
Gloucester, the excellent Dr. Ryder, paying his first official visit to
the Forest, for the purpose of consecrating Christ Church at Berry Hill.
The building was commenced, in 1812, as a chapel schoolroom, by the Rev.
P. M. Procter, the Vicar of Newland, assisted by the Duke of Beaufort,
the Lord Bishop, and Mr. Ryder his secretary, aided by 100 pounds from
the National Society, being the first grant made by it. But the
structure was enlarged to twice the original size previous to its
consecration.
The next year (1817) the Bishop had the satisfaction of being called upon
in the month of April to repeat his visit to the Forest, for the purpose
of dedicating the Church of the Holy Trinity, on Quarry Hill, to divine
worship, for which it was first used on the previous 5th of February,
having been commenced the summer before. Its erection was principally
accomplished by the exertions of the Rev. H. Berkin, assisted by
contributions from the Earl of Liverpool, the Right Hon. N. Vansittart,
the Duke of Beaufort, Lord Kenyon, Lord Calthorpe, W. Wilberforce, Esq.,
M.P., and other benevolent persons. The site, comprising five acres, was
given by the Crown.
On the 15th of May this year the purchase of Lord Viscount Gage's estate,
adjoining the Forest and the Wye, was concluded, as stated in the
Commissioners' Report, which appeared on the 18th of June. It contained
2,229 acres of wood, which, "if preserved, would (they said) very soon be
stocked with a succession of trees of the first quality, as they were of
the most thriving description, the oldest being from sixty to eighty
years old." The whole property contained 4,257 acres 15 poles, and,
including all the timber and underwood, with certain forges, mills,
limekilns, iron and tin works, was valued by the referees at 155,863
pounds 3s. 2d., the timber being prised at 61,624 pounds 4s. This
agreement was confirmed by Act of Parliament, 57 George III., c. 97,
which authorized the raising of the money by sales of Crown property to
the amount of 101,945 pounds 6s. 3d., with the view of enabling the
purchase money to be paid by five equal yearly instalments. A corn-mill,
two forge-houses with appendages, the tolls of the Coleford Market-house,
and about 423 acres of arable or meadow land, were sold for the most part
at higher prices than were given for them, leaving 2,925 acres for the
growth of timber.
[Picture: Norman Capital in Staunton Church]
On tracing the history of this property as far back as existing records
permit, it appears that "the High Meadow Estate," although naturally
included in the district constituting the Crown property of the Forest,
had been at remote period detached from it as appears by the
perambulations of 28 Edward I., with which the bounds of the shires of
Gloucester and Monmouth here coincide. Its ancient village church,
partly of Norman architecture, and its still more antique font,
apparently Saxon, sufficiently attest the early location of inhabitants
on the spot. This estate constituted one of the ten bailiwicks of the
Forest as early as 10 Edward I. (1282), when it was held by John Walden,
called John de Staunton, by the service, as the Rev. T. Fosbroke has
ascertained, "of carrying the King's bow before him when he came to hunt
in the bailiwick, and by homageward and marchat," and "he had for his
custody housbote, heybote, of every kind of tree given or delivered by
the King; all broken oaks, and all trees of every sort thrown down by the
wind." After passing through the families of the Baynhams, Brains,
Winters, and Halls, who purchased the manor of English Bicknor early in
the 17th century, it became by marriage the property of Sir Thomas Gage,
created Viscount Gage of Castle Island, in the county of Kerry, and Baron
Gage of Castlebar, in the county of Mayo, September 14th, 1720. It must
also be noticed, that licences were issued this year for the erection of
steam-engines at "No Coal" and at "Churchway Coal" Mines.
[Picture: Ancient Font in Staunton Church]
The following minute and interesting account of the state of the several
plantations in the year 1818 is by permission abstracted from Mr.
Machen's private papers.
Speaking of the Buckholt (one of the older enclosures), he observes--
"The large timber in it has been cut, and parts of it planted with
young oaks, obtained from places where they had sprung up
spontaneously, but it is still imperfectly stocked. Stapledge
(another of the earlier plantations) has been filled up by
transplanting from the thick parts, and is tolerably well stocked on
the whole. Birchwood (the third of the previous enclosures) has been
planted in the vacant parts, and is fully stocked and very
flourishing. From the Acorn Patch (the last of the old plantations)
a large quantity of young oaks have been transplanted into the open
parts of the Forest and the upper part of Russell's Enclosure. The
trees drawn out are thriving, and many of them grow faster than the
trees remaining in the Acorn Patch. There is a great quantity of
holly and other underwood scattered on the parts where the trees are
planted, and which serves for shelter and protection, and the soil is
very good. The trees, though never transplanted before, came up with
bunches of fibrous roots; and though of so large a size, being from
10 to 25 ft. high, scarcely any of them failed. Several experiments
were tried as to pruning closely, pruning a little, and not at all;
and it appears that those pruned sufficiently to prevent the wind
from loosening the roots answer best, although many of those which
were reduced to bare poles, and had their heads cut off, are now
sending up vigorous leading shoots, and have every appearance of
becoming fine timber: those unpruned did not succeed at all."
Alluding to the earthen banks, with which the plantations were mostly
surrounded, Mr. Machen observes that "In most parts they appear to
succeed very well, and the furze on the top of them grows very
luxuriantly; but in some places, and those where the bank of mould
has accumulated by being washed there in floods, the banks are
mouldering, and in the last two years hawthorn-quick has been planted
in those parts, and now looks very flourishing. There has not been a
good year of acorns, that is, where a quantity have ripened in the
Forest, since the commencement of the plantations until the present,
and the trees are now loaded, and with every prospect of ripening.
The young trees in all the new enclosures are looking remarkably well
this year, and some of them have made shoots so long that they more
resemble willows than oaks. The six first-named enclosures, in
addition to the acorns and five years old oaks, have had the same
quantity of five years old oaks planted in addition, in lieu of the
mending over, viz. 270 on an acre; but there are parts of all these,
and almost the whole of Crab-tree Hill and Haywood, which suffered
not only from the failure of the acorns, but from the ravages made by
the mice, that will require to be filled up as soon as there is a
stock of plants sufficient for the purpose. Russell's Enclosure is
left to nature: only 10,000 Spanish chesnuts have been planted in it,
and some young oaks from the Acorn Patch at the north end. There is
a good deal of large timber over the whole, particularly the south
and centre parts, and a vast quantity of natural young oaks sprung up
in the neighbourhood of the large trees. The fern has been cut to
relieve and encourage them for the last three years. The Lea Bailey
Copse (north) consists of young copsewood well stored with oaks,
growing on their own butts. The Lea Bailey Copse (south) has more
large timber in it: this has not been regularly planted, but some
trees have been transplanted from the thick parts of the north copse,
and from the woodmen's nurseries. The lower Lea Bailey Enclosure has
a considerable quantity of growing timber in it, and a large quantity
of young oaks springing up. No planting has been done here. The
fencing round these consists of a large ditch and bank, and a dead
hedge at top, with hawthorn-quick planted within. The hedge having
stood three years is decayed, and another will be required this year,
which it is expected will last until the quick becomes a fence. The
addition to the Buckholt of about fifteen acres was planted with 3
years old oaks from the woodmen's nurseries, and looks very thriving.
All the other enclosures were planted with seedlings and tenth trees,
according to the second agreement with Mr. Driver, in 1812, 13, 14,
and 15, and are this year looking very well. Parts of all the
enclosures will require mending over, but I should think more than
half are sufficiently stocked with oaks well established, and that
will require no further attention until they want thinning. On the
high land of Haywood, Edge Hills, and Ruerdean Hill, firs and a
mixture of other trees have been planted, and are thriving and
growing fast, particularly on Ruerdean Hill, where the Scotch and
larch take the lead. Firs, &c., have also been planted in the wet
and bad parts of most of the other enclosures, and succeed. The
nurseries we have in cultivation are the Bourts, 161 acres; Yew-tree
Brake, about 5 acres; Ell Wood, 11 acres; and about 26 in the
Vallets, or middle, and Sallow Vallets Nurseries, previously occupied
by Mr. Driver. In these there are now about four millions of young
oaks, three, two, and one year old, and about 600,000 firs and other
trees of different sorts. The plants in Whitemead Park are thriving
very well in all parts which are situated at a distance from the
brook, but near to it they are very thin, stunted, and unhealthy, and
are constantly killed down by spring frosts. Ash and fir trees have
been planted amongst them, but with little success at present. The
principal part of the large timber now in the Forest is about Park
End, on Church Hill, Ivy More Head, Russell's Enclosure, Park End
Lodge Hill, and at the Lea Bailey. That at the Bailey appears
younger, and some of it shook by frost, and rather drawn up by
standing too thick. The timber about Park End is very fine, and I
should suppose from 150 to 200 years old. There is a considerable
quantity of young oak, from 15 to 40 years old, about Tanner's Hill,
&c., near Gun's Mills, on the outside of Edge Hill Enclosure, and
some within it in the lower part. Chesnuts Enclosure is covered with
hazel, that was cut down when the oak was planted, and is now growing
up with the young oaks and chesnuts, both of which are more rapidly
growing in this enclosure than in any other; a double quantity of
chesnuts are planted in this enclosure. There are scarcely any
natural trees in the Forest but oak and beech; birch springs up
spontaneously in every enclosure, and overruns the whole Forest. The
few ash trees look scrubbed and unthrifty. Since the year 1809,
14,260 oak trees containing 14,546 loads of timber have been felled,
viz. 11,322 trees for the navy, and 2,938 sold by auction. About 50
trees, containing about 50 loads, have been blown down or stolen."
This year, 1818, Mr. Trotter obtained the permission of the Crown to
erect steam engines at Vallets Level and Howler's Slade, and in the
following year the first corn mill was constructed at Cinderford, by Mr.
Brace, out of an old water-wheel, and the adjoining buildings. In the
year 1819 also, through the exertions of the Rev. H. Poole, the small
chapel at Coleford, erected there in the reign of Queen Anne, was taken
down, and a building more equal to the religious wants of the place was
erected, and duly set apart for Christian worship, by Bishop Ryder, on
the 18th of January, 1821.
The Third Triennial Report of the Commissioners of Woods was issued on
the 18th of June, 1819. It states that three portions of land had been
granted in trust for church purposes to the Lord Bishop of Gloucester,
Lord Calthorpe, and the Right Honourable Nicolas Vansittart, one piece
being attached to Christ Church, Berry Hill, a second to Holy Trinity
Church, and the third for a proposed church at Cinderford. It also
affirms that the whole of the 11,000 acres specified in the Acts for
enclosing the Forest had been taken in and planted, and that the
plantations were generally in a very flourishing state, comprising with
the recent purchases 14,335 acres, the whole of which lands were, from
the nature of the soil and the conveniences of water-carriage, probably
better adapted for that purpose than any other tract of land in the
kingdom lying together and of equal extent. The report concludes by
alluding to the efforts which the commissioners had been making to induce
such parties as occupied encroachments on the Forest to accept leases for
thirty-one years, at an almost nominal rent, with the view of effecting
the ultimate restoration of these lands to the Crown, but regrets that so
liberal a proposal had been refused by nearly all; nevertheless further
steps were about being taken in the matter.
The following particulars relating to this period are abstracted from Mr.
Machen's Memoranda:--"29th May, 1819. The frost was so severe that the
verdure around White Mead, and throughout all the low parts of the
Forest, was entirely destroyed. There was not a green leaf left on any
oak or beech, large or small, and all the shoots of the year were
altogether withered. The spruce and silver firs were all injured: in
short all trees but Scotch fir and poplar suffered severely.--August
10th. The plantations had recovered from the effects of the frost--the
oak more effectually than the beech, and had made more vigorous and
thriving shoots than I ever saw. We measured several shoots in Serridge
and Birchwood more than five feet long, and one in the Bailey Copse seven
feet. We measured an oak planted in Whitemead Park near to the W. hedge,
and in the second field planted below the house, seventeen feet six
inches high: Lord Glenbervie was present. Shutcastle in the upper part,
and the eastern part of Serridge, were looking best of all the new
plantations, though all appear in a very thriving state this year." From
the same source we learn that Ellwood, purchased from Colonel Probyn, and
containing 110 acres, was planted this year. The holes were dug four
feet apart in rows, and five feet between the rows. The trees planted
were 30,000 Scotch firs, 1,600 pineasters, 3,600 larch, 6,000 Spanish
chesnuts, 120,000 oaks of three and four years old, and 4,500 seedling
oaks planted by way of experiment in one corner of the large field on the
south side of Ellwood, and with no large plants amongst them. A few of
the enclosures had oaks planted in them also, viz.-
Ruerdean Hill 35,000
Beechen Hurst 52,000
Bromley 35,000
Sallow Vallets 12,000
Park Hill 30,000
and some more, from each of the woodmen's nurseries in their respective
enclosures.
In the spring of 1820, 15,000 Scotch firs were planted in Ellwood, in the
place of those that died. During the autumn and the following spring,
about two million trees, which had been raised in the different Forest
nurseries, were also planted out to mend over the different enclosures,
viz.--
Oaks. Firs.
In Whitemead Park 51,000 50,000
Shutcastle Enclosure 25,500
Ellwood 8,000 16,000
Bromeley 80,000 3,500
Nagshead 460,000 5,000
Aston Bridge 81,000
Ruerdean Hill 120,000 63,000
Haywood 240,000
Edge Hills 10,000 70,000
Crab-tree Hill 115,000
Russells 25,000
Kensley Ridge 210,000 80,000
Yew-tree Brake 125,000 35,000
Blakeney Hill 100,000 13,000
--------- ---------
1,625,500 360,500
Under the usual official permission, the Howler Slade Colliery was
connected, by a tramway 350 yards in length, with the Severn and Wye
Railways at Cannop, and Mr. J. Scott was permitted to lay down 102 yards
of tramway to his coal-works at the Moorwood, and Mr. Thomas Phillips to
put up a steam engine at the Union Colliery, in Oaken Hill Enclosure.
There was also another tramway extension by the Bullo Pill Company to the
Folly and Whimsey Collieries at the head of the Dam Pool. A junction was
effected in 1823 between the Severn and Wye, and the Bullo Pill Tramway,
by means of the Churchway Summit, parallel to Serridge, thus connecting
the eastern and western lines of traffic.
In the year 1822 the consecration of the third of the Forest Churches,
St. Paul's, for which a site had been given by the Crown on Mason's Tump,
at Park End, took place on the 25th of April, Bishop Ryder attending.
The Fourth Triennial Report of the Commissioners of Woods, dated 1823,
intimates disappointment at the little growth made by the new
plantations, now eight or nine years old; but, on the other hand, it was
observed that "they were doing well, and that slowness of growth was
inseparable from their nature, particularly at that age." We learn from
Mr. Machen's Notes that at this time, and again in the two succeeding
years, very severe frosts, in one instance as late as the 23rd of June,
greatly injured the young trees, more especially such as grew in low,
moist situations, although in some degree it also touched those on higher
lands.
The property known as "the Great Doward Estate" was purchased by the
Crown, in 1824, from the Miss Griffins, for 15,000 pounds. Although
separated by the river Wye, and situated in Herefordshire, and never
before included within the limits of the Forest, it certainly groups with
the High Meadow Woods, clothing the same valley; and it moreover forms a
definite part of the geological basin of the district.
In March, 1825, the well-known and prosperous Nelson Colliery was
commenced by Messrs. Bennett and Meek. A branch line of tramway was also
made up to Mr. Mushet's Mine, near the Shute Castle Hill Enclosure, from
the Severn and Wye line at Park End.
In each of the seasons of 1824-25 and 1825-26, Mr. Machen states that
about 500 acres of the High Meadow property was planted with oak, Scotch
fir, and larch, in proportions varying with the nature of the soil and
openness of the situation. In the parts where shelter was most
requisite, two-thirds of fir and one-third of oak were planted, in others
half of each, and in sheltered situations oak alone. A great many of
these plants perished in the spring and summer of 1825 from heat and
drought, and still more in 1826, which was the driest spring and summer
ever remembered. In some high and shallow parts nearly every tree died;
a great many also were eaten off and destroyed by the hares and rabbits.
There were now 3,000 acres of wood on the High Meadow estate, viz. 2,000
acres of old woods, and 1,000 acres lately planted. In the year last
mentioned the Fifth Triennial Report of the Commissioners of Woods, &c.,
was issued, signed by Charles Arbuthnot, Wm. Dacres Adams, and Henry
Dawkins.
By the spring of 1827 Mr. Edward Protheroe effected the opening of
collieries at Ivy Moore Head, Park End Main, Park End Royal Pits, and at
Birch Well, at most of which pumping and winding engines were put up, a
tramway 1,500 yards in length connecting them with the main road of the
Severn and Wye Company. The same year saw a reduction of the landed
property of the Crown by the sale of its rights in the Fence Woods,
Mawkins Hazels, and Hudnalls, comprising a total of 1,273 acres 3 roods 9
poles, for 925 pounds. The Crown's right in Hudnalls, although it
contained 1,200 acres, was of little value, as the inhabitants of St.
Briavel's had the right of cutting wood on it.
Passing over the next year, the earliest circumstance in order of time is
the opening of the important colliery at Crump Meadow, and the
construction of 1,200 yards of tramway, uniting it with the main line of
the Bullo Pill Company above Cinderford, all which was executed by Mr.
Protheroe.
We next find, under the date of March 16th, 1829, Mr. Machen
observing--"Although the Scotch firs have succeeded so well as nurses for
the oaks, and have brought them forward, making them healthy and thriving
on land that without shelter would only have produced them stunted and
unthrifty, yet I am inclined on the whole to prefer larch. They are a
shelter available for the purpose, although not so complete; but by that
means the oaks are not kept too warm and brought too forward, and the
larch is more valuable in itself. In some of our cold valleys, however,
the larch will not grow, the spring frosts cutting them off." He also
remarks--"We are now planting the oaks by the side of the road from 'Jack
of the Yat' to Coleford Lane End, those at the White Oak, and opposite
the Buckholt, and those leading to Eastbatch, having been planted in 1827
and 1828. The space of road left is about fifty feet. Most of the trees
are brought from the Vallets Enclosure, and do not cost more than four
pence each to replant them. They are twelve to fifteen feet high, and a
man can carry about two of them at a time. We are also planting the
Lodge Hill about York Lodge, at the rate of 300 to an acre, leaving them
without any fence."
Upon the 6th of June this same year the sixth and last of the "Triennial
Reports of the Commissioners of Woods," &c., came out, signed Lowther,
Wm. Dacres Adams, Henry Dawkins.
With reference to 1830, Mr. Machen's note-book supplies the following
memoranda:--"2nd March, planted trees on each side the road to Breem,
also on the side of the Coleford Road below Bromley Enclosure, and about
Catchcan Coal-works, continuing the avenue down the Long Hill, planting
also the delves between Serridge and Sallow Vallets, at a cost of about
four pence per tree, no fences being put round them. We planted also in
the Greens of Russell's Enclosure. Some pineasters and larch were
likewise planted on the old Quarry Mounts, by the sides of the road
leading from Park End to Coleford, as likely, if successful, to produce a
good effect.
"(March, 1831, all died; renewed March, 1834--these mostly alive and
flourishing.)"
"May 28th.--The most extraordinary blight is now upon the trees that I
believe ever was known: it is confined entirely to the oak, and chiefly
to the large trees, although in some parts it is extending to the young
plantations. The whole of the High Meadow woods and great part of the
Forest, particularly Russell's Enclosure, and where the timber is thick,
are entirely stripped of their leaves, and look as if fire had passed
through them. Where a beech stands amongst them, it is perfectly green,
and the oaks all around quite brown. The grubs and their webs are so
thick, that it is disagreeable to ride amongst the trees, and like going
into a net."
On the 8th June, 1830, the First Annual Report of the Commissioners under
the 10th Geo. IV., c. 50, was issued. It was signed by Lord Lowther, Wm.
Dacres Adams, and Henry Dawkins. Mr. Machen states in his Memoranda,
that "this winter single trees were planted on Breem Eaves; triple rows
on Clearwell Meend, by the roads on Coverham, on the Delves. We mended
over the spots that have failed in Oaken Hill, Stapledge, Acorn Patch,
Crab-tree Hill, Sallow Vallets (chiefly by drawing out where the trees
are too thick). Most of the enclosures are now quite filled up." And
under date Nov. 1831, he gives the following statement of the several
plantations:--
Acres.
Land now under plantation in Dean 11,000
Forest, enclosed by Act of
Parliament
Whitemead Park 240
Ellwood 90
Old Keeper's Land (3) 90
------
11,420
High Meadow and Doward 3,288
Planted with single trees 1,114
Young trees of natural growth 150
Old timber 528
------
Total 16,500