CHAPTER XVI. · Part 1

CHAPTER XVI.

_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