_The Geology of the Forest, and its Minerals_--Their character in
general--Description of the beds of conglomerate, mountain limestone,
iron veins, millstone grit, and lower coal measures--"The Coleford High
Delf"--Elevation of the Forest range of hills--The middle coal veins--The
upper veins--Mr. Mushet's analysis of the Forest coal--Their fossils--The
stone-quarries of the district.
The geological conditions of the Forest of Dean merit careful
observation, not only as regards the mineral wealth comprised within its
limits, but as explanatory of its undulations, and the means of
maintenance for its inhabitants.
The strata of the Forest repose in a basin-like form, the greatest
depression being near the centre; the longer axis extending from N. to S.
about eleven miles, and the transverse axis, in the widest part, ranging
from E. to W. about seven miles. The general observer, if he takes his
stand on the edge of hills by which this basin is bounded, will see the
enclosing character of the ridge, as well as the less conspicuous circle
of somewhat elevated land occupying the central portion of the field, and
which is separated by a valley or plain from the surrounding ridge.
This outlying ridge marks in most places the outcrop of the Conglomerate,
Mountain Limestone, Iron Veins, Millstone Grit, and Lower Coal-measures.
Mr. Maclauchlan's geological map of the district exhibits the course of
the conglomerate bed, and the consequent disappearance of the old red
sandstone formation under the Dean Forest basin. Occasionally this
conglomerate, or hard grit, forms two distinct beds, very distant from
one another, near Lydney for instance, and on the Kimin Hill and
Buckstone, although it is sometimes cut off altogether by a "fault," as
opposite Blackney. It varies in hardness as well as in the number of the
pebbles, and not unfrequently presents an abrupt fall at its termination,
as at "the Harkening Rock" in the Highmeadow Woods.
[Picture: General view of the centre of the Forest]
[Picture: Geological Map of the Forest]
The upper portion of the bed is soft, and acquires the character of the
limestone clay, often throwing out springs, such as St. Anthony's Well,
which have accumulated in the limestone rocks above. A very micaceous
stone sometimes occurs in the upper parts, having the appearance of
silver: hence the name of "Silver Stone" given to a spot near the
Hawthorns, where it is found. The surface which the carboniferous
limestone exposes is also represented in the map. The Forest coal-field
is surrounded by this formation, with the exception of the line of fault
between Lydney Park and Danby Lodge, a distance of four miles.
The principal iron-mine train of the district divides into a lower or
more crystalline, and an upper or more argillaceous and sandy stratum.
Mr. Mushet thus describes this important metallic vein:--"The iron ores
of the Forest of Dean, which have become intimately known to me, are
found, like the ores of Cumberland and Lancashire, in churns or caverns
formed in the upper beds of the mountain or carboniferous limestone. The
leaner ores contain a great deal of calcareous matter in the shape of
common limestone or spar, which reduces the percentage in the ore as low
as between 15 and 25 per cent., and it seldom exceeds 25, except when
mixed with fragments of what is called brush ore, which, when in
quantity, raises the percentage to 40 or 45. Brush ore is a hydrate with
protoxide of iron, and frequently, if not much mixed with calcareous
earth, contains from 60 to 65 per cent. of iron. These ores are found in
chambers, the walls of which are exceedingly hard limestone, crystallized
in rhombs. This limestone is called the 'crease,' and is frequently
found enveloped and covered with the iron ore. The miner has to cut his
way through this crystallized limestone from chamber to chamber, a
distance of from 20 to 100 yards, before he reaches the next of these
deposits, which are sometimes found to contain 3,000 or 4,000 tons of
ore. The principal part of the ore is then dug easily, somewhat like
gravel; but the sides of the chambers are often covered with the stony
ore before described, which requires gunpowder to detach it from the
rock." These various ores were found by the same excellent authority to
yield iron in the following proportions:--
Hydrates of Iron 57.5 per cent.
"Brush" Ore 64.5 ,,
Red Calcareous Ore 9.7 per cent.
"Blake Ore" 22 ,,
The inhabitants of the Forest consider the ores obtained on the east side
superior to those on the west. They likewise suppose, but probably
without foundation, that the ore will be found to deteriorate in
proportion as the workings descend. Red and yellow ochre of superior
quality occur in the iron veins, and have at various times been in
considerable request. They are now used in the neighbourhood for marking
sheep, and tinting whitewash.
Reverting to the limestone beds of the district, the lower veins are
locally called "blue stone," the middle "red stone," and the top vein the
"white head," which is largely used as a flux in the smelting furnaces.
The researches of Mr. R. Gibbs, of Mitcheldean, have enabled him to
furnish me with the following list of fossils discovered by himself in
the Forest limestone formation:--
_Zoophyta_ Syringopora reticulata, Turbinolia
fungites, Lithostrotion irregulare.
_Echinodermata_ Actinoerinus aculeatus, et
,, laevissimus, Platyerinus laevis et
,, rugosus.
,, Poteriocrinus crassus, et pentagonus.
Rhodocrinus costatus, et granulatus.
_Mollusca Dimyaria_. Pallastra complanata.
_Brachiopoda_. _Terebratula_ hastata.
,, Spirifer glaber, et rhomboideus.
,, Chonetes cornoides, et papilionacea.
,, _Leptoena_ analoga.
,, _Productus_ cora, et longispinus, et
martini, et pustulosus et cornoides.
_Lamellibranchiata_. Monomyaria.
Aviculopecten fallax.
Dimyaria.
Psammobia complanata.
Pisces.
Ctenacanthus tenuistriatus.
Cladodus conicus.
Psammodus porosus, et rugosus.
[Picture: Vertical section of the Plump Hill]
The millstone grit beds immediately succeed those of the carboniferous
limestone just described, forming a similar belt round the Forest, and
disappearing with it on the Blakeney side of the basin. Its chief
interest consists in the circumstance that it has been employed from very
early times as a material for building; for though it contains a vein of
iron ore, little has been done in mining it. Most of the old buildings
adjoining the parts where this grit crops out are formed of it, as
several of the ancient neighbouring churches show, and likewise the
oldest lodges in the Forest; now, however, this kind of stone is seldom
used except for boundary walls, and such kind of rough work.
The rest of the outer circle of high land, on whose summit the observer
has been supposed to be standing, and which so definitely marks the
Forest coal-field, comprises the _lower_ coal measures, containing the
lower and upper Trenchard veins, the Coleford High Delf, with the
Whittington and Nag's Head seams, which together give about eleven feet
of coal. Of these the Coleford High Delf, averaging a thickness of
upwards of five feet, and extending over an area of 16,000 acres, is
undoubtedly the chief, although in some places it has suffered from
various disturbances, the principal of which occur in the neighbourhood
of Coleford, extending in a line from Worcester Lodge to Berry Hill, and
is marked on the surface by a succession of pools, named Howler's Well,
Leech Pool, Crabtree Pool, Hooper's Pool, and Hall's Pool. Mr. Buddle
describes the width as varying from 170 to 340 yards in the most defined
part, called by the colliers the "Horse," and the dislocations adjoining,
the "Lows." "It is not," he remarks, "what geologists term a _fault_, as
there is no accompanying dislocation of the adjoining strata. In its
underground character it is similar to those _washes_ or aqueous deposits
in many coal districts, but it differs from them in not being under the
bed of any river, nor in the bottom of a valley, nor does it show itself
at the surface." And he adds, "On considering the various phaenomena
presented by this fault, and the seam of coal on each side of it, we may
infer that it occupies the site of a lake which existed at the period of
the deposition of the High Delf seam, and that the carbonaceous matter
which formed the seam was accumulated while the water was deep and
tranquil. On the water being discharged from the lake, the 'Horse'
itself occupied the bed of the river, by which the complete drainage of
the lake was effected, and which washed the coal entirely out."
The same scientific observer records an extraordinary depression about
half a mile to the south-east, in the direction of the "Horse," and in
the same seam of coal, amounting to about twenty feet in depth, and of an
oval shape. Various other defects and disturbances in the Coleford High
Delf are detected from time to time by the new workings, especially in
those places where the surface is most uneven. Thus its outcrop at
Lydney is very imperfectly defined, and at Oakwood Mill the vein is
rendered worthless by a fault, whilst on each side of the Lydbrook valley
there is a contortion, by which it is thrown down in one instance seventy
yards, and in two others thirty yards each.
Such is the geological character of the conspicuous range of hills by
which the Dean Forest coal-field is bounded, especially on its north and
east sides. The following table gives their height in feet at certain
places above the sea:--
Feet.
Symmond's Rock 540
Buck Stone 954
Knockholt 760
Clearwell Meand 727
Ruerdean Hill 991
High Beech 891
Coleford Meand 760
Berry Hill 750
Lea Bailey Hill 580
Mitcheldean Meand 870
Edge Hill 908
Stapledge 749
Putten Edge 664
Blaize Bailey 684
Blackney Hill 507
Nearly all these spots afford magnificent views of the surrounding
country, reaching as far as the Coteswold, Sedgebarrow, Malvern,
Herefordshire, Welsh, and Monmouthshire heights, relieved intermediately
by the windings of the Severn, cultivated plains, and woodland. Several
very striking ravines intersect this Forest range, particularly at
Lydbrook, Blackpool Brook, and Ruspedge, such as would afford the artist
many beautiful and interesting subjects for delineation. One of the
hills, viz. that on which Mr. Colchester's house, called "the
Wilderness," is situated, affords a prospect rarely equalled. The
present residence dates from the year 1824, but it occupies a site which
was built upon as early as 1710, if not before, for the accommodation of
sporting parties in the days of Sir Duncombe Colchester, when its fine
sycamores and trees of "the Beech Walk" were most likely planted.
Descending from the side of the hilly range on which the reader has been
supposed to stand towards the middle of the Forest, a plain is reached
varying in width from half a mile to little more than 100 yards, and
forming a band round the somewhat elevated centre of the district. This
circular valley or plain marks the outcrop of the middle series of coal
seams, not less than ten in number, the principal ones being the Smith
Coal, Lowery or Park End High Delf, Starkey, Rocky, and Upper and Lower
Churchway. The combined thickness of these beds may be said to average
20 feet, and they are more argillaceous in character than the lower beds,
which in general are harder in their nature, and hence they afford the
larger portion of the fossiliferous remains observed and tabulated by Mr.
R. Gibbs, who has kindly furnished the writer with the following--
PLANTAE.
_Asterophyllites_ equisetiformis, et foliosus.
_Bothrodendron_ punctatum.
_Calamites_ approximatus, nodosus.
_Caulopteris_ primaeva.
_Lepidodendron_ dichotomum, et elegans, et Serlii, et Sternbergii, et
majus.
_Neuropteris_ acutifolia, et angustifolia, et flexuosa, et macrophylla,
et oblongata.
_Pecopteris_ abbreviata, et arborescens, et cristata, et dentata, et
Serlii.
_Sigillaria_ contracta, et elongata, et mammillaris, et ornata, et
reniformis.
_Sphenophyllum_ fimbriatum, et Schlotheimii, et truncatum.
_Sphenopteris_ Hibbertii, et macilenta.
_Stigmaria_ ficoides.
_Ulodendron_ Lindleyanum, et Lucasii.
The same variations in thickness as well as "faults" which have been
detected in the lower coal seams, occur in the middle measures, although
they do not in any case assume the same magnitude as the "Horse" in the
Coleford High Delf.
The heart of the Forest basin is well defined by its forming a slightly
varied plateau, containing the inferior and comparatively unimportant
seams of Woor Green coal, situated of course nearer to the surface than
the other veins, but as yet only sparingly worked, and not accurately
defined in its outcrop. The highest elevations in this portion of the
district are:--Surridge, 658 feet; Speech-house, 581 feet; St. Paul's,
Park End, 270 feet. The combined vertical thickness of the entire
formation, descending from the top surface to the old red sandstone, is
calculated by Mr. D. Williams at 2,765 feet, an opinion which is
corroborated by Mr. Atkinson's highly interesting sections based on his
practical acquaintance with the mining operations of the Forest.
Mr. Mushet obtained by analysis the following percentage of carbon in the
various descriptions of coal, viz.:--
Lowery Delf 62.
Coleford High Delf 63.72, 63.61, and 60.96.
Churchway 60.33 and 64.135.
Rockey 61.735.
Starkey 61.53.
Park End Little Delf 58.15.
Smith Coal 63.36.
None of these sorts of coal emit "fire-damp" in their natural
condition--a fact which adds so much to the safety of the pits; but
"choke-damp" is very prevalent.
The sandstone matrix of these coal-beds constitutes the grey and
buff-coloured rock so well known in the neighbourhood of the Forest as a
valuable building material, as well as for ornamental stonework.
Although for many years past it has been generally preferred to the
gritstone of the district, and is commonly met with in the better
specimens of stonework on this side the Severn, of which Mr. Telford's
Over Bridge and Lord Somers's mansion at Eastnor are examples, yet
originally such was not the case, since the earliest example of its being
used for any considerable pieces of masonry occurs in the steeple of
Ruerdean Church, a work of the 15th century. Now, however, almost all
the 320 stone quarries worked in the Forest are of this stone, which is
very pleasing in tint, and, if judiciously selected, very durable.
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 16.5 foote
the pole, 520 acres. In wch 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, wch, 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, wch 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 IIs VId 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 Mties 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 Ld of Worcester's should survey those woodes
is a wilful mistakinge, synce by the particules it appeares that one Mr
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 Lpp 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 Lpp; for wthout 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, Sr, 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 Ld your ffather and Sr Walter Myldemaye did let them
by lease, and soe made VIILI rent, wthout any ffyne, your Lpp hath now
made 500li ffyne, and 20li rent, wch 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 wch 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 wch have noe manner of woodd standing vpon them at
all. Lastly, that the enclosinge of these coppices wth a sufficient
mound will cost me 200 markes the least, beside the great quantitie of
woodd that must necessarilye be spent therein, for wch no manner of
allowance is made mee, &c. &c. &c.'"
The next MS. in Sir J. Caesar's collection seems designed to promote the
extension of the iron-works, and relates several interesting particulars.
It is headed "Reasons to move his Mtie 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 condicon 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, wch yf in tyme yt be not forseene, will consume all his
Mties 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 Scto 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 Mates 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
wthout good warrant, was from tyme to tyme attached, presented, and made
to paye for ye 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 mencon, that some of these woodwardes have forfeyted their
Bayliwyckes, and have compounded wth the Kinge to have them againe
regranted. It appeareth alsoe by Recordes, that the King hath bene
answered of Browsewood wthin 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 wch 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 tenemts holden by the face, and called new sett
landes, wch the tenantes doe passe from partie to partie in the Kinge's
Court at St 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 Mts Bailiff. Imprimis, the parke of Thomas Baynham, Esqr, called
Noxon, is parcell therof, except from the gutter to the pale towards his
house, holden by the tenure aforesaid, 50li per ann.
"Item, the house and land of Richard Allowaye, gent., is so holden, 30li
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 wth other lands beyond his house,
50li per ann.
"Richard Carpenter's land, called 5 acres, and his corne leasowes, wth
all his other landes abutting vpon Mr Thornburie's Myll, and so vp to the
same forrest, is so holden, 15li pr ann.
"Mr Thornburie's Myll, wth all the landes thereunto belonginge, is so
holden, 20li.
"Richard Wirgan's land, nere to a place called the Meine, wthin the said
forrest, adioyning to the woodside, is of that same tenure, 10li.
"Christofer Bunn holdeth parcell of the same landes wch I have not
viewed, 10li.
"The Earle of Pembrooke holdeth by lease for 5 yeres yet to come,
Whitemayde Parke, wch was taken out of the forrest, of the like tenure,
20li.
"Sir Edward Winter's parke from the woodeside to the launde is of the
like tenure, together wth the 2 highwaies wch have bene inclosed out of
the forrest wthin this 20 yeres, 30li.
"Widowe Earwoode's ground from Mr Carpenter's to the forrest side is of
the same tenure, 15li.
"Thomas Dininge's Myll, called Breame, wth 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, 40li.
"Mr. Jeames, of Bristoll, holdeth 100li per ann. of the same tenure wthin
the forrest.
"Md 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 wch a Dyer holdeth vnder him, & was
taken out of the Kinge's comon, together wth other lands not yet
throughly viewed.
"Item, all Wrurdyne is much more land, wch shall be viewed & sett downe
hereafter.
"Item, Stanton's myne, wth much other land vnviewed, is so holden.
"All wch 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 Mties fforrest of Deane in
Com' Glouc., viz., the Earle of Pembrooke is now High Cunstable of the
same fforest. William Winter and Roger Myners, Esqrs, or one of them, is
deputie Cunstable to the said Earle, & they keepe Courtes every 3 weeks
at St Breuilles, and allso every 6 weekes at the Speach House, or Court
of Attachment wthin the same fforrest. William Carpenter is Steward of
St 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. Md every tenantes & the borderers doe take tymber for their
buildings as allso hedge woods to inclose their own groundes, & take
fyring at their pleasure wthin the fforrest, & sell their owne woodes and
the woodes of the landes wthin mentioned, to the great spoile of the
Kinge's woodes wthin 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 Forestae de Deane tento apud Castrum Glouc. in
com. Glouc. die Iovis decimo die Iulij anno Regni Domini Caroli nunc
Regis Angliae decimo coram Henrico Comite de Holland praenobilis 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 terrae prati et pasturae et de diversis horreis
stabulis, Anglice barnes Stables, et aliis necessariis edificiis super
terram praedictam ab antiquo edificatis in parochia de Newland infra
Forestam de Deane praedictam in dominico suo ut de feodo, et pro se et
haeredibus suis clamat has libertates privilegia et franchesias sequentia
tanquam ad mesuagium terram pratum et pasturam et caetera edificia
praedicta pertinentia et spectantia, videlicet pro necessaria
reedificatione et reparatione dicti mesuagii sui et aliorum antiquorum
edificiorum suorum super terram et tenementa sua praedicta existentium,
quod ipse per visum et allocationem forestariorum et viridariorum
Forestae praedictae de bosco et maeremio domini Regis super vasta et
communia Forestae praedictae crescentibus de tempore in tempus capere et
percipere potest. Et quod forestarii et viridarii Forestae praedictae
post requisitionem per ipsum Willielmum Skynne eisdem factam apud Curiam
domini Regis infra Forestam praedictam tentam vocatam Le Speech Court,
debent ire videre et appunctuare boscum et maeremium in vastis et
communibus Forestae praedictae sic ut praefertur crescentia praedictis
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 Forestae praedictae existentibus. Clamat etiam communiam pasturae
in omnibus locis apertis et communicalibus Forestae praedictae pro
omnibus averiis suis communicalibus super terras et tenementa sua
praedicta levantibus et cubantibus omnibus anni temporibus (mense vetito
solummodo excepto). Clamat etiam habere pawnagium pro omnibus porcis
suis super terras et tenementa sua praedicta levantibus et cubantibus in
omnibus vastis Forestae praedictae tempore pawnagii, Reddendo domino Regi
annuatim summam unius denarii pro pawnagio praedicto per nomen de
Swinesilver et non amplius. Et pro titulo ad has libertates privilegia
et franchesias sic ut praefertur 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 praedecessorum suorum Regum et Reginarum
Angliae apud Castrum suum Sancti Briavelli de tribus septimanis in tres
septimanas, ac etiam annuatim solvere feodo firmario domini Regis
Forestae praedictae 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 praefatus Willielmus Skynne et omnes antecessores et omnes ili
quorum statum ipse nunc habet in mesuagio terris et tenementis
supradictis ratione soctae ad Curiam dicti domini Regis et redditus octo
solidorum et octo denariorum praedictorum ac summae unius denarii in
nomine de Swinesilver sic ut praefertur per ipsum de tempore in tempus
domino Regi factorum et solutorum usi fuerunt et a toto praedicto 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 praedictum mesuagium terras et tenementa praedicta spectantia
et pertinentia, et eis omnibus et singulis juxta vim formam et effectum
clamei sui praedicti 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 praedicta libertates
privilegia et franchesias hic ut praefertur per ipsum superius clamata
sibi et haeredibus suis allocari juxta clameum suum praedictum.
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 C D E
{265} {265a} {265b}
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
Ft.ins ins Ft.ins ins Ft.ins ins Ft.ins ins Ft.ins ins
Oct 3 9 - - - - - - - - -
1814
,, 3 1.625 - - - - 17 2 - - -
1816 10.625
,, 3 1 - - - - 17 3 1 0 -
1818 11.625 11.5
,, 4 1.25 - - - - 17 4.125 - -
1820 0.825 7.125
,, 4 1.75 - - - - 18 5.125 - -
1822 2.625 0.25
,, 4 4.5 1.825 - - - - 18 3.5 - -
1824 3.75
,, 4 5.5 1 - - - - 18 6 - -
1826 9.75
,, 4 8 2.5 - - - - 18 2 - -
1828 11.75
,, 4 10 2 - - 12 - 19 0.75 4 3 -
1830 4.5 0.5
,, 4 0.75 - - - - 19 1.25 - -
1832 10.75 1.75
,, 4 0.5 - - - - 19 4 2.25 6 -
1834 11.25 1.75
,, 5 0 0.75 - - - - 19 9 5 6 9 7.25
1836
,, 5 0.75 17 9 12 6 20 2 5 7 3.5
1838 0.75 10.5 0.5
,, 5 1 0.25 17 10 1 12 0.25 20 4 2 7 7 6.5
1840 10.75
,, 5 0.25 17 1.25 12 0.75 20 8 4 8 0 5
1842 1.25 11.25 11.5
,, 5 3.5 2.25 18 3.5 13 1 1.5 - - 8 10 10
1844 2.75
,, 5 1.25 18 0.75 13 1.5 21 0 4 9 5.25
1846 4.75 3.5 2.5 3.25
,, 5 6 1.25 18 1.75 13 4 1.5 21 4 4 9 10 6.75
1848 5.25
,, 5 6.5 0.5 18 6 0.75 13 0.75 21 2.5 10 2 4
1850 4.75 6.5
,, 5 7 0.5 18 0.5 13 0.5 21 8 1.5 10 8 6
1852 6.5 5.25
,, cut - 18 0.75 13 2.75 21 10 2 11 6.5
1854 down 7.25 7.5 2.5
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.
A B C D E F
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in.
Oct. 7.75 - 10.75 - 9.5 - 9 - 12.625 - 10.75 -
1818
,, 9 1.25 13 2.25 10.5 1 10.25 1.25 14.375 1.75 12.125 1.375
1820
,, 10.25 1.25 15.125 2.125 11.25 0.75 11.5 1.25 16.25 1.825 13 0.825
1822
,, 11.375 1.125 17.125 2 12.375 1.125 12.625 1.125 17.75 1.5 14.75 1.75
1824
,, 12.25 0.825 18.75 1.625 13.25 0.825 13.75 1.125 19.125 1.375 16.125 1.375
1826
,, 13.125 0.825 19.5 0.75 13.75 0.5 14.5 0.75 20.375 1.25 17.25 1.125
1828
,, 13.625 0.5 20.375 0.825 14 0.25 15.25 0.75 21 0.625 17.75 0.5
1830
,, 15.375 1.75 22.25 1.825 14.5 0.5 16.625 1.375 22.5 1.5 19.25 1.5
1832
,, 17.375 2 25 2.75 15.625 1.125 18.125 1.5 24 1.5 21 1.75
1834
,, 19.125 1.75 27.75 2.75 17.625 2 19.5 1.375 25.75 1.75 22.75 1.75
1836
,, 21.125 2 30.375 2.625 19 1.375 20.75 1.25 27.75 2 24.25 1.5
1838
,, 22.825 1.75 32 1.625 20.375 1.375 21.75 1 29 1.25 25.75 1.5
1840
,, 24.625 1.75 33.825 1.825 21.75 1.375 22.625 0.825 30.25 1.25 27 1.25
1842
,, 26 1.375 34.75 0.825 22 0.25 22.825 0.25 30.75 0.5 27.5 0.5
1844
,, 27.5 1.5 36.5 1.75 22.75 0.75 23.625 0.75 32.125 1.375 28.625 1.125
1846
,, 30 2.5 38.75 2.25 24.5 1.75 25.25 1.5 34.125 2 30.625 2
1848
,, 31.5 1.5 40.5 1.75 26 1.5 26 0.75 35.5 1.375 32.5 1.825
1850
,, 32.75 1.25 41 0.5 26.75 0.75 26.25 0.25 37 1.5 33.75 1.25
1852
,, 33.75 1 44 3 26.75 - 27.25 1 37.75 0.75 34.75 1
1854
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.
A B C D E F G
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins ins
Oct. 64.5 - 52 - 56.25 - 58.25 - 56.5 - 53.25 - 47.25 -
1838
,, 65 0.5 53 1 57.125 0.825 59 0.75 57.5 1 53.75 0.5 49 1.75
1840
,, 66.75 1.75 54.25 1.25 58.5 1.375 60.375 1.375 58.625 1.125 55.125 1.375 49 -
1842
,, 69.75 3 54.5 0.25 59 0.5 61.25 0.825 59 0.375 55.75 0.625 49 -
1844
,, 73 3.25 55.5 1 60.25 1.25 62 0.75 59.5 0.5 56.5 0.75 49.5 0.5
1846
,, 73.25 0.25 56 0.5 61.5 1.25 62.25 0.25 60.25 0.75 57.5 1 50.5 1
1848
,, 73.5 0.25 56.25 0.25 62.5 1 63.25 1 60.5 0.25 58.75 1.25 50.75 0.25
1850
,, 76 2.5 56.5 0.25 63.25 0.75 64.5 1.25 61.5 1 59.5 0.75 51.5 0.75
1852
,, 78 2 58 1.5 64.75 1.5 65.625 1.125 62.5 1 61.25 1.75 52.5 1
1854
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.
A B C D E F G
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in.
Oct 61 - 62 - 65.5 - 67.375 - 46.5 - 82.5 - 49 -
1822
,, 62.5 1.5 63.75 1.75 68 2.5 69 1.625 49.25 2.75 83.25 0.75 52 3
1824
,, 65 2.5 65.75 2 71.75 3.75 71.5 2.5 52 2.75 84 0.75 55.5 3.5
1826
,, 67.25 2.25 67.5 1.75 74.5 2.75 73.25 1.75 54.75 2.75 85 1 58 2.5
1828
,, 68.25 1 68.5 1 75 0.5 73.75 0.5 55.25 0.5 87.25 2.25 59 1
1830
,, 69 0.75 69.5 1 76.5 1.5 74.25 0.5 56.75 1.5 88.25 1 60.5 1.5
1832
,, 71 2 71.25 1.75 77.5 1 75.25 1 57.5 0.75 90 1.75 61.5 1
1834
,, 72.5 1.5 72.75 1.5 78.5 1 76 0.75 58 0.5 91 1 62.5 1
1836
,, 73.5 1 73.5 0.75 79.75 1.25 76.5 0.5 59 1 92 1 63.75 1.25
1838
,, 74 0.5 74.75 1.25 80.25 0.5 78 1.5 59.25 0.25 92.5 0.5 64 0.25
1840
,, 75.625 1.625 74.825 0.125 81.5 1.25 79.125 1.125 59.25 - 93.375 0.825 64 -
1842
,, 76.75 1.125 75.75 0.825 82 0.5 80.25 1.125 60.5 1.25 93.75 0.375 65.75 1.75
1844
,, 78 1.25 77.5 1.75 82.75 0.75 81.5 1.25 61.5 1 96 2.25 67 1.25
1846
,, 80.25 2.25 78.5 1 83.25 0.5 82.25 0.75 63 1.5 96.25 0.25 67 -
1848
,, 82 1.75 79.75 1.25 84.75 1.5 83.75 1.5 64.5 1.5 98 1.75 68 1
1850
,, 82.5 0.5 80.5 0.75 85.25 0.5 83.75 - 65.25 0.75 98.5 0.5 69.75 1.75
1852
,, 83.25 0.75 81.25 0.75 85.5 0.25 86 2.25 66.25 1 99.25 0.75 71 1.25
1854
SECOND PART.
H I J K L M N
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in.
Oct 49 - 31.25 - 46.75 - 30 - 67.25 - 36.75 - 28 -
1822
,, 52.25 3.25 32.25 1 49.5 2.75 32 2 69.75 2.5 39 2.25 29.75 1.75
1824
,, 55.75 3.5 33.75 1.5 52.5 3 34.5 2 72.5 2.75 42.25 3.25 31.75 2
1826
,, 58.25 2.5 35.25 1.5 55.25 2.75 37 2.5 75 2.5 45 2.75 34 2.25
1828
,, 59 0.75 36 0.75 56 0.75 37.5 0.5 76 1 45.5 0.5 34.5 0.5
1830
,, 60.25 1.25 38 2 57.25 1.25 39 1.5 77.5 1.5 47.25 1.75 36.25 1.75
1832
,, 61 0.75 38.75 0.75 58 0.75 39 - 78.75 0.75 48 0.75 37 0.75
1834
,, 62 1 39.5 0.75 59 1 40 1 79 0.25 48.75 0.75 38 1
1836
,, 62.75 0.75 40.5 1 60.25 1.25 41.75 1.75 80.25 1.25 50 1.25 39 1
1838
,, 63 0.25 41.25 0.75 61 0.75 42.75 1 82.25 2 51.5 1.5 39.25 0.25
1840
,, 63.75 0.75 41.25 - 61 - 43.25 0.5 83.25 1 53.25 1.75 39.5 0.25
1842
,, 64.25 0.5 42 0.75 62 1 44 0.75 84.75 1.5 54.5 1.25 40.125 0.625
1844
,, 66.25 2 43 1 62.75 0.75 45.25 0.5 85.75 1 55.5 1 41 0.825
1846
,, 67 0.75 44 1 63.75 1 46.25 1 86.5 0.75 57 1.5 42 1
1848
,, 68.75 1.75 44.5 0.5 65 1.25 47.5 1.25 88 1.5 58 1 43 1
1850
,, 69 0.25 44.75 0.25 65.75 0.75 48 0.5 89 1 59 1 43.75 0.75
1852
,, 69.5 0.5 45.75 1 66.375 0.625 48.75 0.75 90 1 60 1 44 0.25
1854
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 E. Turkey Oak.
Oak.
Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc
ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in.
Oct 1836 2 8.5 - 2 5 - 2 9.25 - 1 7.5 - 1 9 -
,, 1838 2 11 2.5 2 6.75 1.75 2 11.25 2 1 10 2.5 1 11.5 2.5
,, 1840 3 0.25 1.25 2 8.5 1.75 3 1.5 2.25 2 0.75 2.75 2 2.5 3
,, 1842 3 2 1.75 2 10 1.5 3 3.5 2 2 3.5 2.75 2 5.5 3
,, 1844 3 5.5 3.5 3 1 3 3 6.5 3 2 7 3.5 2 9 3.5
,, 1846 3 8 2.5 3 2 1 3 10 3.5 2 10 3 3 0 3
,, 1848 3 10.25 2.25 3 4 2 4 1 3 3 1 3 3 2.25 2.25
,, 1850 4 0.5 2.25 3 5.5 1.5 4 2 1 3 2.75 1.75 3 4.25 2
,, 1852 4 2.75 2.25 3 7.5 2 4 4 2 3 4.75 2 3 6.5 2.25
,, 1854 4 5.75 3 3 10 2.5 4 7 3 3 8.75 4 3 10.5 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 7.25 - 1 11.5 - 2 2 - 2 0.25 -
,, 1838 1 10.25 3 2 3 3.5 2 5.5 3.5 2 5 4.75
,, 1840 2 1.25 3 2 5.75 2.75 2 8.75 3.25 2 10 5
,, 1842 2 4.5 3.25 2 9.5 3.75 3 0 3.25 3 3.5 5.5
,, 1844 2 8 3.5 3 1 3.5 3 2 2 3 9 5.5
,, 1846 2 11 3 3 4 3 3 5.5 3.5 4 2.75 5.75
,, 1848 3 2.25 3.25 3 7.5 3 3 8.5 3 4 7.75 5
,, 1850 3 4.25 2 3 10 2.5 3 9.75 1.25 4 11 3.25
,, 1852 3 6.75 2.25 4 1 3 3 11.5 1.75 5 3.5 4.5
,, 1854 3 10 3.25 4 5 4 4 3.5 4 5 8.25 4.75
_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 8.5 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 pounds at 7 pounds
10s. per 50 feet; or, if the original value of the land and expense
of ploughing it amounted to 25 pounds, about twenty-five times its
original value.
"If the thinnings be considered equivalent to the expense of
protection-fences, &c., and 25 pounds at compound interest for 170
years be calculated, 624 pounds 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 pt new built, the rest repaired by the Farmers,
22ft square, wheel 22ft diamr. Furnace box built 4 years since by the
Farmers. Bridge-house 48ft by 21, 9 high, built 4 years, Bellow's boards
18ft 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 Hamrs, 3 Fineries, 1 Chaffery, repd 2 years since,
one of the Fineries new.
"_Whitecroft Forge_,--built abt 6 yrs since by the Farmers, do do
"_Bradley Forge_.--do do do
"_Sowdley Furnace_, built 3 years--Qu. if rebuilt? Bridge house, pt
built by the farmers, pt old and decayd, Trow leading to the wheel, .5
made new 5 years since, decayd, 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_, 23ft long, 9 bottom, 23ft deep, new built 3 yrs
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 yt."
"_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 60lb, 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 diamr, 7 Iron Whops, one the Waste, made about three
years since. With Shafte and all things belonginge about 20lb, in good
repaire.
"The Furnace Howse half tiled, built with timber 4 years since by the
Farmers, cost about 80lb, 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, 18ft longe, 4ft broad. A Watter Trowe 1ft
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 20lb.
"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 5s the Ton.
"_Outhouses_.--The Furnace Keeper's Cabbyne built of timber covered with
bords built by the Farmers, cost 3lb, 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 wth a stable, 20
Nobs 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, 13s 4d.
"A Myne Kilne not in repaire, built before the Farmers' tyme, with 5
piggs of Iron in the walls, 20s will repaire.
"Cole places.
"_Implemnts_--one paire of Bellowes furnished with iron implemnts,
somewhat defective in the lethers, valued at 15lb, made by the Farmers,
the repaire whereof will cost 6lb 13s 4d.
"6 cambes of iron in Wheele Shafte waying about 4cwt.
"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 Wtts, Pigs used for weights upon the bellows poises, 3.5c 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, 40lb it
cost.
"The Water Wheele 22ft heigh, wth a Shaft whereon 7 whops, 2 Gudgions and
2 brasses, built about the same tyme, in repaire, valued at 20lb. 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 10lb. The Carpenter's worke one the
roofe at 20s, the tilinge valued at 6lb 13s 4d.
"A Pent house under the Furnace, 10s.
"The Bridge House 42ft longe, 22ft broad, the said walles 8.5 foot,
covered with boards, double bottomed with plancke, upon stronge sleepers,
valued at 40lb.
"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 10lb, made by the Farmers.
"Another Water course, built with stone one both sides and covered wth
planckes 2.5 foot broad, 46 foot, in repaire, 5lb.
"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 20lb, and will cost 3lb.
"A Water course of above .5 mile to the South, made before their tyme.
"The Hutch built with stone and covered with plankes of 6 foot heigh, 3
foot broad, 70ft, saving about 11 foot at the vent which is timber,
repaired by the Farmers, in repaire, but the Courant stopt below with
cinders, 13lb 6s 8d; the cutting of a newe will cost 8lb.
"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, 18ft longe, 11 broad, valued at 5lb.
"A Cabbyne adjoining to the Furnace for the Furnace Keeper, about a Tonn,
built by the Farmers, and valued at 2lb.
"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 2lb.
"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 13lb 6s 8d, the repaire
will cost 10lb.; 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 .5 a ton
of rawe iron for a wt, in repaire; 1 sowe of iron of 16cwt. which was in
the front wall, soe now lyes before the doore, 5lb.
"1 Grindstone, 2 bellowe boards, never used, and 4 old ones, 1lb 10s.
"Collyers' Hurdles.
"The tymber ymployed about the said worke estimated at 140 tonns, and
valued at 8s the tonn, 56lb.
"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
60lb.
"_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 12lb.
"One other finerye chimney, made within the yeare, 5lb, 3 newe trowes
through the bay, 26ft longe a piece, covered with planke one the west
side, 13lb 6s 8d.
"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, 40lb.
"The chaffery wheele in the west side, old and decayed, 3lb to repaire
it.
"One longe trowe one the est side leadinge the watter to the fynerye, 66
foote longe, 6lb 13s 4d; another great trowe with a penstocke, 32 foote,
cost 3lb 6s 8d; 1 great penstocke in the hamer trowe, 14 foot longe, 2
foote square, 40s.
"2 Water Pricke Posts with his laces, 4lb.
"The Hamer Hutch one the west side, 4 foote square, bottoms and sides
with plancks, 2 ranges of timber 150 foote longe, 10lb.
"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, 80lb.
"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, 5lb.
"A flowd gate with 6 sluices, strongly tymbered, built with stronge wall
one either side thereof, 160 foote longe, 3ft heigh, 3 foot thicke,
aproned and plancked on the top for a bridge 3 years since, 44 foot
longe, 22ft broad, 50lb.
* * * * *
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 13th day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand
seven hundred and forty-eight, before Christopher Bond, Esqr, and Thomas
James, gentleman, deputyes to the Right Honourable Augustus, Earl of
Berkeley, Constable of the Castle of St Briavels, in the County of
Gloucester, Christopher Bond, Esqr, 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.
"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. We leave this to the best proof & the order.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 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 St 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 leave this to the best evidence.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
Ct.
"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 8th.--In the ear of our Lord 1754. Aun award, or an
Agreement, made by Richard Powell, John Jenkins, Wm Thomas, Thos 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 Wm 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 St
Briavels (but not in any stone quarry that is belonging to Ld 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, 199
"Hoarthorns," containing
,, ,, 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 507
Whitecroft ,,
,, 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.