Old Sports and Sportsmen; or, the Willey Country: with sketches of Squire Forester and his whipper-in Tom MoodyRandall, John
History
Old Sports and Sportsmen; or, the Willey Country: with sketches of Squire Forester and his whipper-in Tom Moody
Randall, John
Forester, George, -1811; Hunting -- England -- Shropshire; Shropshire (England) -- History
The ancient extent of the forest must have been about twelve miles by
five. The names of the places mentioned to which the limits of the chace
are traced are so different in many instances from the present that it
may be of interest to give a few of them. From Yapenacres Merwey the
boundary was to go up to the Raveneshok (Ravens’ Oak), thence straight to
the Brenallegrene, near the Coleherth (Coal Hearth) going up by the
Fendeshok (Friends’ Oak) to the Dernewhite-ford. Thence upwards to the
Nethercoumbesheved; and so straight through the Middlecoumbesheved, and
then down to Caldewall. Then down through the Lynde to the Mer Elyn.
Thence down to Dubledaneslegh, and then up by a certain watercourse to
the Pirle; and so up to Wichardesok; and so to the Pundefold; and so down
by the Shepewey to the Holeweeuen, and then up by a certain fence to
Adame’s Hale (Adam’s Hall), and thus by the assarts which John de
Haldenham (Aldenham) holds at a rent of the king to the corner of
Mokeleyes Rowe (Muckley Row); and thence down to Yapenacres Merwey, where
the first land-mark of the Haye begins. There was also, it was said, a
certain bosc which the King still held in the same forest, called
Benthlegh Haye (Bentley Haye).
In addition to this Haye there was the Haye of Shirlot, opposite to which
a portion of the forest in the fifth of Henry III.’s reign was ordered to
be assarted, which consisted in grubbing up the roots so as to render the
ground fit for tillage.
In connection with these Hayes, generally a staff of foresters,
verderers, rangers, stewards, and regarders was kept up; and forest
courts were also held at stated times (in the forest of the Clee every
six weeks), at which questions and privileges connected with the forest
were considered. Philip de Baggesour, Forester of the Fee in the king’s
free Haye of Schyrlet in 1255, in the Inquisition of Hundreds, is said to
have under him “two foresters, who give him 20_s._ per annum for holding
their office, and to make a levy on oats in Lent, and on wheat in
autumn.” “The aforesaid Philip,” it is said, “hath now in the said Haye
of Windfalls as much as seven trees, and likewise all trees which are
wind-fallen, the jurors know not by what warrant except by ancient
tenure.” These privileged officers had good pickings, evidently by means
of their various time-sanctioned customs, and jolly lives no doubt they
led.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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