Landscape record MDO44514 - Royal Forest of Holt

The royal forest of Holt (centred SU 0404) is mentioned in Domesday, where it is referred to as the Forest of Wimborne, It was included in the Royal Manor of Kingston, and is mentioned as "Wynburnholt" in a charter of 1267. It appears that, while the whole Forest was subject to a degree of protection, part of it was kept as a park, and "old parke" to the south of Holtwood is also mentioned. Some of the area of the Forest must have been inhabited and clutivated, for in 1269 and 1368 the right to hold fairs and markets at Holt was granted, and it has been said that the annual fair of Saint James' Day was still being held at the beginning of the 19th century.

In the reign of Elizabeth I the forest came under the jurisdiction of the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy records include the report of a Commission of 1595 detailing the Forest bounds, which coincide almost exactly with present boundary of Holt parish. The manor of Kingston Lacy, including Holt Forest, was sold by the Crown in the reign of James I and passed to Sir Edward Blount and later to the Bankes family. <1>

<1> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1967, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1966, 197-202 (Serial). SDO66.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 213245 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 23 2024 11:12AM