New Forest History
nearly 1,000 years of life.
New Forest history goes back nearly 1,000 years
- no wonder it's such a fantastic place to live - or have a really special holiday.
Your holiday will always involve a part of the past history - even if you don't always realise it. Here're a few examples of where history mingles side by side with life in the forest today.
It is a special place of natural beauty as well as holding its own unique New Forest history.
During your visit you may want to stop and have a picnic, whilst getting ready to absorb some New Forest history.
Bolderwood provides a great site: toilets (a must!)
a good area to lay out and relax in, an area to play
and also helpful info from the Forestry Commission staff.
As usual, much of the following information is based on my own experience of New Forest life.
You will be bound to drive through
Ancient woodland
some will be thriving and alive but some may have given up
the ghost during a heavy storm - they will all be spectacular.
The
New Forest ponies
are a hardy and quiet natured breed. They also have their own unique New Forest history.
Can you believe I filmed this on 6th April 2008?
Please always be aware that they should never be fed...and they are not used to human contact and so always be aware of hooves and teeth - they can kick and bite if they feel in danger!
The New Forest National Park has an intriguing history of
Commoners and Foresters lives
Each animal you see is owned and their health maintained, by
a Commoner. There's loads for you to learn about their history and struggles against the reigning monarchies over the years.
Deer run wild through the forest, and
these are some you are likely to see.
If not you can always visit the New Forest Deer Sanctury at Bolderwood.
Cows and donkeys also run freely and you can find out where to see them and enjoy a good lunch and a pint!
Sometimes visitors drive through the New Forest and are amazed
that the whole area isn't just forest. It's a very special
habitat and includes
Heathlands and bogs
which also hold a fantastic history and a life of their own.
There are quite a few
Memorial sites - like Rufus Stone, and WW1 and WW2 sites,
within the forest, ranging from the far distant past to the
last century and its occupation during WW1 and WW2.
New Forest timber actually helped provide WW2 gas masks
.... I didn't realise charcoal was used in gas masks -
did you?
Let's take a brief look at the New Forest history, and I'll recommend some places to visit
to really experience the New Forest life.
- 1079 King William 1 makes the New Forest a royal hunting ground
This protects both the animals roaming on it and the food they eat - it wasn't a truly altruistic move - it meant his hunting forays would always be good!
- 1086 The New Forest is recorded in the Domesday Book
- 1100 William Rufus, the son of King William, is killed by an arrow
whilst out hunting in the forest.
You can visit this site and read the
triple sided information board which is on the site of the accident (or murder)
- 1217 King Henry 111 protects the New Forest further by a Charter of the Forest
- 1483 The first Tree Growing Act introduces enclosures on a wider scale
- 1698 More enclosures, this time under William 111, to protect timber for the Navy
- 1845 The Forest is divided by an extension through to Dorset of the London to Southampton railway
- 1877 The Court of Verderers is re-established
- 1939-1945 World War 11 reaches the New Forest - airfields are built for
wartime use
- 1969 National Nature Reserve status is given to recognise and protect wildlife and natural habitats
- 1971 Site of Sprecial Scientific Interest status given - but - Traditional Forest Laws are abandoned
- 2005 The New Forest becomes the latest UK National Park
So, that was just a small example of New Forest history, starting with Rufus Stone and going up to the present day.
I hope you will want to delve further into New Forest history, and all it's fascinating past.
If you want to search New Forest Life.com without using the navigation bars on the left, then here's a really useful Google tool.
Just put your search details e.g. pigs in the search box and hit Search and you can choose to search my site or go onto the Web and come back to NewForest-Life.com.
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