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{{for|the civil parish|Dartmoor Forest}}
{{for|the civil parish|Dartmoor Forest}}
[[File:Siward's cross 2.jpg|thumb|right|Nun's Cross, one of the boundary markers of the Forest]]
[[File:Siward's cross 2.jpg|thumb|right|Nun's Cross, one of the boundary markers of the Forest]]
The '''Forest of Dartmoor''' was an ancient [[royal forest]] covering part of [[Dartmoor]], [[Devon]], England.
The '''Forest of Dartmoor''' is an ancient [[royal forest]] covering part of [[Dartmoor]], [[Devon]], England.


A royal forest was an area reserved by the king for hunting and [[William the Conqueror]] introduced the concept of forest law in England in the 11th century.<ref name="LD">{{cite web
A royal forest was an area reserved by the king for hunting and [[William the Conqueror]] introduced the concept of forest law in England in the 11th century.<ref name="LD">{{cite web
Line 9: Line 9:
|accessdate=2009-07-06
|accessdate=2009-07-06
|last=Sandles
|last=Sandles
|first=Tim}}</ref> In 1239 [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] granted the Forest of Dartmoor (and the Manor of [[Lydford]]) to his brother, [[Richard, Earl of Cornwall]]. From that date it technically became a [[Chase (land)|''chase'']], not a ''forest'', though the name did not change.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.94</ref>
|first=Tim}}</ref> Until 1204 the whole of Devon was a royal forest, but in that year [[John of England|King John]] agreed (subject to the payment of a "fine" of 5,000&nbsp;[[Mark (money)|marks]]) to disafforest all of Devon "up to the metes of the ancient regardes of Dertemore and Exmore, as these regardes were in the time of King Henry the First". In other words all of Devon except for Dartmoor and Exmoor was freed from forest law.<ref>Brewer 2002, p.15</ref>


In 1240 the Sheriff of Devon and twelve knights of the county [[Beating the bounds|perambulated]] the Forest to record its exact bounds.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.96</ref> Ever since, this has been known as the "1240 Perambulation". At around the time of this Perambulation the first of the [[Ancient Tenements]], [[Babeny]] and [[Pizwell]], were founded.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.96–98</ref>
In 1239 [[Henry III of England|King Henry III]] granted the Forest of Dartmoor (and the Manor of [[Lydford]]) to his brother, [[Richard, Earl of Cornwall]]. From that date it technically became a [[Chase (land)|''chase'']], not a ''forest'', though the name did not change.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.94</ref> The next year, the Sheriff of Devon and twelve knights of the county [[Beating the bounds|perambulated]] the Forest to record its exact bounds.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.96</ref> This event has been known as the "1240 Perambulation" ever since. At around the time of this Perambulation the first of the [[Ancient Tenements]], [[Babeny]] and [[Pizwell]], were founded within the Forest.<ref>Somers Cocks 1970, p.96–98</ref>


Richard's son, [[Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall|Edmund]] inherited the forest, but when he died in 1300 without issue, the forest reverted to [[The Crown]]. It was granted by [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]] to [[Edward, the Black Prince]] in 1337, at the same time as he was created the first [[Duke of Cornwall]].<ref name="B16">Brewer 2002, p.16</ref> Today, the forest still belongs to the [[Duchy of Cornwall]].<ref name="LD"/>
Richard's son, [[Edmund, 2nd Earl of Cornwall|Edmund]] inherited the forest, but when he died in 1300 with no heir, the forest reverted to [[The Crown]]. [[Edward II of England|Edward II]] granted it to his [[favourite]] [[Piers Gaveston]] in 1308; on his beheading in 1312, it reverted to The Crown again.<ref>Milton 2006, p.8</ref> Then in 1337 [[Edward III of England|King Edward III]] granted the forest to [[Edward, the Black Prince]], at the same time as he created him the first [[Duke of Cornwall]],<ref name="B16">Brewer 2002, p.16</ref> and today, the forest still belongs to the [[Duchy of Cornwall]].<ref name="LD"/>


==The "Perambulations"==
==The "Perambulations"==
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| location=Tiverton, Devon
| location=Tiverton, Devon
| isbn=1-84114-172-0}}
| isbn=1-84114-172-0}}
*{{cite book
| last=Milton
| first=Patricia
| title=The Discovery of Dartmoor, a Wild and Wondrous Region.
| publisher=Phillimore
| date=2006
| location=Chichester
| isbn=1-86077-401-6}}
*{{cite book
*{{cite book
| last=Somers Cocks
| last=Somers Cocks

Revision as of 15:48, 7 July 2009

For the civil parish, see Dartmoor Forest.
Nun's Cross, one of the boundary markers of the Forest

The Forest of Dartmoor is an ancient royal forest covering part of Dartmoor, Devon, England.

A royal forest was an area reserved by the king for hunting and William the Conqueror introduced the concept of forest law in England in the 11th century.[1] Until 1204 the whole of Devon was a royal forest, but in that year King John agreed (subject to the payment of a "fine" of 5,000 marks) to disafforest all of Devon "up to the metes of the ancient regardes of Dertemore and Exmore, as these regardes were in the time of King Henry the First". In other words all of Devon except for Dartmoor and Exmoor was freed from forest law.[2]

In 1239 King Henry III granted the Forest of Dartmoor (and the Manor of Lydford) to his brother, Richard, Earl of Cornwall. From that date it technically became a chase, not a forest, though the name did not change.[3] The next year, the Sheriff of Devon and twelve knights of the county perambulated the Forest to record its exact bounds.[4] This event has been known as the "1240 Perambulation" ever since. At around the time of this Perambulation the first of the Ancient Tenements, Babeny and Pizwell, were founded within the Forest.[5]

Richard's son, Edmund inherited the forest, but when he died in 1300 with no heir, the forest reverted to The Crown. Edward II granted it to his favourite Piers Gaveston in 1308; on his beheading in 1312, it reverted to The Crown again.[6] Then in 1337 King Edward III granted the forest to Edward, the Black Prince, at the same time as he created him the first Duke of Cornwall,[7] and today, the forest still belongs to the Duchy of Cornwall.[1]

The "Perambulations"

Although the original document detailing the route of the 1240 Perambulation has been lost, a number of near-contemporary copies still exist, differing only in spelling.[7] A modern transcription of the places mentioned is as follows:[1][8]

  • Cosdon (a prominent hill on the northern edge of Dartmoor)
  • Hound Tor
  • Watern Tor
  • Hew Lake Foot
  • The Longstone on Shovel Down (a Bronze Age standing stone)
  • The Heath Stone
  • The marsh at the head of the Metheral Brook
  • King's Oven
  • The head of the Walla Brook
  • Along the Walla Brook to its confluence with the East Dart River
  • Along the River Dart (past Dartmeet) to the foot of the O Brook
  • Dry Lake (a tinner's gulley)
  • The Sandy Way
  • Ryder's Hill
  • The head of the Wella Brook
  • Down the Wella Brook to its confluence with the River Avon
  • Eastern Whittabarrow (a large cairn)
  • The confluence of Red Lake and the River Erme
  • The head of the River Erme
  • Eylesbarrow
  • Nun's Cross
  • South Hessary Tor
  • North Hessary Tor
  • Great Mis Tor
  • White Barrow
  • Limsboro Cairn
  • The confluence of the Rattle Brook and the River Tavy
  • Up the Rattle Brook to its head
  • Stenga Tor
  • High Willhays[9]
  • Halstock Chapel
  • Return to Cosdon

There was another perambulation of the forest bounds in 1608 which introduced a number of changes and added boundary points between the existing ones.[10] The exact boundaries continued to be unclear or disputed until the later 19th century.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sandles, Tim. "The Legendary Forest of Dartmoor". Legendary Dartmoor. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  2. ^ Brewer 2002, p.15
  3. ^ Somers Cocks 1970, p.94
  4. ^ Somers Cocks 1970, p.96
  5. ^ Somers Cocks 1970, p.96–98
  6. ^ Milton 2006, p.8
  7. ^ a b Brewer 2002, p.16
  8. ^ Brewer 2002, pp.20–41
  9. ^ Brewer 2002, p.39
  10. ^ Brewer 2002, p.18
  11. ^ Brewer 2002, map on p.21

Sources

  • Brewer, Dave (2002). Dartmoor Boundary Markers. Tiverton, Devon: Halsgrove. ISBN 1-84114-172-0.
  • Milton, Patricia (2006). The Discovery of Dartmoor, a Wild and Wondrous Region. Chichester: Phillimore. ISBN 1-86077-401-6.
  • Somers Cocks, John (1970). "Saxon and Early Medieval Times". In Crispin Gill (ed.). Dartmoor. A New Study. Newton Abbot: David and Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5041-2.
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