Forest Law protected the venison for the kings to hunt.
However hunting can hardly have been the motivation for maintaining so many forests.
As well as Sherwood Forest there were other famous forests such as the New Forest in Hampshire, Englewood in Cumbria and many others.
In England in the medieval period there were as many as 46 individual royal forests.
Certainly too many for one king to hunt in all the time-
In reality forests and their laws and courts became huge financial institutions.
The forest Eyres (courts-
“ as much a financial assembly as a court of law”
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Forests were a way of jealously guarding the assets of venison and woodland for the crown.
The collection of :
fines,
rents for assarts, (clearing woodland for arable)
sale of game,
the sale of timber,
charcoal,
& rents for agistment
All of these brought vast sums of money to the treasury.
Gifts and Payments:
As well as directly bringing money to the crown the forests provided the opportunity for the king to secure loyalty and reward service…
In the years 1231-
Venison:
• 10 bucks to the Bishop of Lincoln,
• 3 bucks and 4 does to the Earl of Huntington,
• 5 bucks and 20 does to the Bishop of Carlisle…
Timber:
• 30 oaks to the Priory of Lenton -
• 5 lime trees to the Friars of Nottingham -
In 1316 Edward II authorised Ralph de Crumbwell to fell and sell 20 acres of his wood at Lambley-
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Under forest law it did not matter who owned the land -
No wonder forest law was unpopular!
(Andy Gaunt, first published 29/07/2011)
Click here for more ‘Stories from the Forest’…
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Royal gifts and payments from the Forest
Award Winners 2016
for "Engaging people in the heritage, history & archaeology of Sherwood Forest".
Some funders and partners:
World-
Mercian Archaeological Services CIC
Specialists in Community Archaeology, Public Involvement, Research & Training
Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire, Excavation, Research, Volunteering, Community Archaeology Derbyshire, Training, Social, Learning, Community Archaeology Leicestershire, Heritage, Involvement, Belonging, Knowledge sharing, Community Archaeology Lincolnshire, Topographic Survey, Talks and Presentations, Outreach, Archaeology Projects , Open Days, Schools, Finds Processing, Day Schools, Field Schools, Young People, Archaeology and History of Sherwood Forest, Pottery Research, Medieval, Roman, Prehistoric, Community Interest Company, Community Archaeology Nottinghamshire.
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The Future of Sherwood’s Past
Project page links:
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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey
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Long term Research at
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest
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The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool
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“Scirwuda-
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project
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Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site
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Searching for the
The Battle of Hatfield
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Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel
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St Mary’s Norton-
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Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest
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The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project
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Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project
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The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest
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Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel
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The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.
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Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey
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World War II in Sherwood Forest -
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World War I in Sherwood Forest -
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About Medieval Sherwood Forest
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Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest
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Project page links:
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-
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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey
-
Long term Research at
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest
-
The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool
-
“Scirwuda-
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project
-
Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site
-
Searching for the
The Battle of Hatfield
-
-
Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel
-
St Mary’s Norton-
-
Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest
-
The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project
-
Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project
-
The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest
-
-
-
Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel
-
-
-
-
The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.
-
Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey
-
World War II in Sherwood Forest -
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World War I in Sherwood Forest -
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About Medieval Sherwood Forest
-
Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest
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