Monument record MDO47844 - The New Forest

The 1280 bounds of the New Forest, in force prior to Magna Carta, from 1227-1299 and from 1306 to 1327; known as the `large bounds'. Many changes took place between 1086-1327. Believed to have remained relatively unchanged from 1327 until l964 with the introduction of the New Forest Act.

The 1280 Perambulation, or the large bounds, was the boundary enforced before Magna Carta, from 1227 to 1299 and 1306 to 1327. It is present in the New Forest Court Roll of 1280 (PRO E.32/1961 m.1.d). Other versions are present in the Winchester Collage muniments (WCM6147), the New Forest Report 1789, Appendix 2, and a late fourteenth copy in Titchfield Abbey records. (1)

The following attempts to define the bound-marks along the northern bounds between North Charford and Redbridge. These have not previously been recorded. (For specific details see individual child records).

The Perambulation starts in the north at `Hudeburwe' (Windmill Ball) then in a clockwise direction includes the following; `Folkewell', `Le Redechowe' (as yet an unidentified bound-marker), `La Bredewelle' (Leburn Gutter), `Brodenoke' (Lords Oak?), `La Chertihowe' (St. Peters Church), `La Brygge' (Bloody Bridge), `Burnford' (Burnford Bridge), `Kademannesforde' (Cadnam), `the water of Selvey', `Orebrugge' (Blackwater Bridge) and `La Wade' (Wade Bridge). The bounds then continued down the River Blackwater and then followed the line of a pre-conquest estate boundary as far as the River Test to `La Eldeburwe' (The Walls), to the confluence of the rivers Blackwater and Test-`Methe'. From this point the boundary is well defined following the River Test to `Rudebrigge' (Redbridge), along the west bank of Southampton Water, along the coast past `La Hurste' (Hurst) to Christchurch Bridge, up the east bank of the River Avon to Fordingbridge, to `Moletone' (Breamore Mill) then to `Northchardeford' Sechevile' (North Charford). From here it was defined by a stream and gully and continued back to `Herdeberwe'. (1)

Doubts have been expressed about the status of this perambulations. The first arises from the opening text `The Metes and Bounds of the New Forest from the first time that it was afforested'. Evidence from Domesday book shows these are not the original bounds. In 1275 the limits of legal memory was set to 1189. As the description refers to the bounds which were in force prior to Magna Carta, reintroduced in 1227, it could legally have been described as the bounds of the forest from time immemorial.

The second objection is that the bounds includes places which were not within the Forest at the time of Domesday and not thought to have been subsequently afforested, ie. Christchurch and Lymington. These may have been physically within the Forest but were placed outside the jurisdication of the forest officers by royal grant. (2)

Bounds of the New Forest, as perambulated in accordance with the perambulation of CHASI, demarcated on Record OS 6"s. <3>

A substantial bank and ditch, which is thought to be part of the southern boundary of the forest, was found at SZ 212609840 (NAR SZ 29 NW 4) but no other boundary features were found during a perambulation of the entire circuit of the forest. <4>

An expansion of the original New forest boundary took place during the 11th and 12th centuries, predominantly during the reign of Henry I. One of the earliest known perambulations of the New Forest was made c.1215-6 subsequent to Magna Carta, another dated 1217 was made following the Charter of the Forest (3). These reduced the boundary with the reintroduction of the original 1086 bounds (Small Bounds). This was revoked in 1227, and was replaced by the pre-Magna Carter boundary (the Large Bounds) which remained in force until 1299 when it was replaced by the original bounds, represented by the perambulation of 1300-1. The bounds represented by the perambulation 1300-1 were again revoked in 1306 and replaced by the large bounds. The Large Bounds was replaced with the small bounds when the Charter of the Forest was finally implemented in 1327.

While the Large Bounds were enforced, perambulations dated 1278-9, 1279-80 and 1297-8, were undertaken but never implemented. These were ordered in 1277 and 1297 by Edward I, and were reiterations of the Small Bounds. They were carried out with the expectation to enforce the Charter of the Forest, to defforest areas outside the royal demesne. <5-7>

<1> Clarke, Arthur, 1993, Hampshire Field Club Newsletter, 3 (Serial). SDO20546.

<2> Stagg, D J (ed ), 1990, Hampshire Field Club: New Forest Section Report 28, 8-12 (Serial). SDO20545.

<3> Private 6" map, Verderer's Office, Forestry Commission, Lyndhurst (Map). SDO20548.

<4> Aldsworth, F G, Various, Field Investigators Comments FGA, F1 FGA 05-Dec-1969 (Unpublished document). SWX1161.

<5> Stagg, D J (ed ), 1974, Hampshire Field Club: New Forest Section Report 13, 26-27 (Serial). SDO20547.

<6> Stagg, D J (ed ), 1990, Hampshire Field Club: New Forest Section Report 28, 10-12 (Serial). SDO20545.

<7> Clarke, Arthur, 1993, Hampshire Field Club Newsletter, 3-7 (Serial). SDO20546.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 762123 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 762186 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 29 2024 4:16PM