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



SECOND PART.



H I J K L M N Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. Oct 49 - 31.25 - 46.75 - 30 - 67.25 - 36.75 - 28 - 1822 ,, 52.25 3.25 32.25 1 49.5 2.75 32 2 69.75 2.5 39 2.25 29.75 1.75 1824 ,, 55.75 3.5 33.75 1.5 52.5 3 34.5 2 72.5 2.75 42.25 3.25 31.75 2 1826 ,, 58.25 2.5 35.25 1.5 55.25 2.75 37 2.5 75 2.5 45 2.75 34 2.25 1828 ,, 59 0.75 36 0.75 56 0.75 37.5 0.5 76 1 45.5 0.5 34.5 0.5 1830 ,, 60.25 1.25 38 2 57.25 1.25 39 1.5 77.5 1.5 47.25 1.75 36.25 1.75 1832 ,, 61 0.75 38.75 0.75 58 0.75 39 - 78.75 0.75 48 0.75 37 0.75 1834 ,, 62 1 39.5 0.75 59 1 40 1 79 0.25 48.75 0.75 38 1 1836 ,, 62.75 0.75 40.5 1 60.25 1.25 41.75 1.75 80.25 1.25 50 1.25 39 1 1838 ,, 63 0.25 41.25 0.75 61 0.75 42.75 1 82.25 2 51.5 1.5 39.25 0.25 1840 ,, 63.75 0.75 41.25 - 61 - 43.25 0.5 83.25 1 53.25 1.75 39.5 0.25 1842 ,, 64.25 0.5 42 0.75 62 1 44 0.75 84.75 1.5 54.5 1.25 40.125 0.625 1844 ,, 66.25 2 43 1 62.75 0.75 45.25 0.5 85.75 1 55.5 1 41 0.825 1846 ,, 67 0.75 44 1 63.75 1 46.25 1 86.5 0.75 57 1.5 42 1 1848 ,, 68.75 1.75 44.5 0.5 65 1.25 47.5 1.25 88 1.5 58 1 43 1 1850 ,, 69 0.25 44.75 0.25 65.75 0.75 48 0.5 89 1 59 1 43.75 0.75 1852 ,, 69.5 0.5 45.75 1 66.375 0.625 48.75 0.75 90 1 60 1 44 0.25 1854



TABLE 5.—FORMED BY MR. MACHEN.

An Account of the Admeasurement of nine Trees growing on York Lodge Hill: A, B, C are Oaks; D, E, F are Turkey Oaks; and G, H, I are Chesnuts. These trees have been planted singly on the open Forest without any Fence (now 1836), about 20 years since.

FIRST PART.



A. Oak. B. Oak. C. Oak. D. Turkey E. Turkey Oak. Oak. Inc Inc Inc Inc Inc ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. Oct 1836 2 8.5 - 2 5 - 2 9.25 - 1 7.5 - 1 9 - ,, 1838 2 11 2.5 2 6.75 1.75 2 11.25 2 1 10 2.5 1 11.5 2.5 ,, 1840 3 0.25 1.25 2 8.5 1.75 3 1.5 2.25 2 0.75 2.75 2 2.5 3 ,, 1842 3 2 1.75 2 10 1.5 3 3.5 2 2 3.5 2.75 2 5.5 3 ,, 1844 3 5.5 3.5 3 1 3 3 6.5 3 2 7 3.5 2 9 3.5 ,, 1846 3 8 2.5 3 2 1 3 10 3.5 2 10 3 3 0 3 ,, 1848 3 10.25 2.25 3 4 2 4 1 3 3 1 3 3 2.25 2.25 ,, 1850 4 0.5 2.25 3 5.5 1.5 4 2 1 3 2.75 1.75 3 4.25 2 ,, 1852 4 2.75 2.25 3 7.5 2 4 4 2 3 4.75 2 3 6.5 2.25 ,, 1854 4 5.75 3 3 10 2.5 4 7 3 3 8.75 4 3 10.5 4



SECOND PART.



F Turkey Oak. G Chesnut. H Chesnut. I Chesnut. Inc Inc Inc Inc ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. ft.in. in. Oct 1836 1 7.25 - 1 11.5 - 2 2 - 2 0.25 - ,, 1838 1 10.25 3 2 3 3.5 2 5.5 3.5 2 5 4.75 ,, 1840 2 1.25 3 2 5.75 2.75 2 8.75 3.25 2 10 5 ,, 1842 2 4.5 3.25 2 9.5 3.75 3 0 3.25 3 3.5 5.5 ,, 1844 2 8 3.5 3 1 3.5 3 2 2 3 9 5.5 ,, 1846 2 11 3 3 4 3 3 5.5 3.5 4 2.75 5.75 ,, 1848 3 2.25 3.25 3 7.5 3 3 8.5 3 4 7.75 5 ,, 1850 3 4.25 2 3 10 2.5 3 9.75 1.25 4 11 3.25 ,, 1852 3 6.75 2.25 4 1 3 3 11.5 1.75 5 3.5 4.5 ,, 1854 3 10 3.25 4 5 4 4 3.5 4 5 8.25 4.75

The following letter of Mr. Vaughan, of Court Field on the Wye, near Lydbrook, merits insertion, as bearing testimony to the value of the preceding Tables compiled by Mr. Machen, exhibiting the growth of Trees in the Forest.

"Court Field, October 15, 1841.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I thank you very much for the interesting account you have sent me of the result of your observation during a series of years upon the growth of trees. It is really a most curious document. I ought to have thanked you sooner, but I was anxious, first, to compare your Table with the result of my own admeasurements of trees at Court Field in various situations; and give you, at the same time, the result of my calculations.

"I find that my experience fully corroborates yours, though it induces me to believe that the forest growth is slightly below an average—which the soil and situation would also induce one to imagine.

"I calculate, from your Table, that an oak-tree measuring 6 inches girt doubles its contents (exclusive of its increase in height and limb) in 5 to 6 years. Whereas, a tree measuring 8.5 inches, or half a foot girt, requires 10 or 12 years to double itself.

"With regard to the trees 170 years old, I find that A has increased 19 feet or 28 per cent. only in 30 years, and B 26 feet or 48 per cent. during the same period; neither, therefore, paying much interest on their value within the last 30 years.

"I calculate that the value of the acres of growing timber which you refer to (73 oaks averaging 58 feet) would be 624 pounds at 7 pounds 10s. per 50 feet; or, if the original value of the land and expense of ploughing it amounted to 25 pounds, about twenty-five times its original value.

"If the thinnings be considered equivalent to the expense of protection-fences, &c., and 25 pounds at compound interest for 170 years be calculated, 624 pounds will be found to be less than 1/20 per cent. = a hundredth of 5 per cent. per annum.

"I remain, my dear Sir, very faithfully yours,

"JOHN V. VAUGHAN."



No. IV. Mr. Wyrrall's Survey of the Forest of Dean Iron Works in 1635.

"Canop Furnace.—Most pt new built, the rest repaired by the Farmers, 22ft square, wheel 22ft diamr. Furnace box built 4 years since by the Farmers. Bridge-house 48ft by 21, 9 high, built 4 years, Bellow's boards 18ft by 4. Clerk's house and stable built by the Farmers. A cottage built by the Workmen belonging to the Works, now occupied by the Filler. Built before the Farmers hired.—Founder's house, Minecracker's cabin, A Mine Kiln.

"Park Furnace.—Same dimensions, repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, Wheel and almost all the houses built by the Farmers.

"Park end Forge.—2 Hamrs, 3 Fineries, 1 Chaffery, repd 2 years since, one of the Fineries new.

"Whitecroft Forge,—built abt 6 yrs since by the Farmers, do do

"Bradley Forge.—do do do

"Sowdley Furnace, built 3 years—Qu. if rebuilt? Bridge house, pt built by the farmers, pt old and decayd, Trow leading to the wheel, .5 made new 5 years since, decayd, 5 Cottages, 1 built by the Farmers. A dam a mile above Sowdley built by the Farmers. A dam half a mile still higher, built long since.

"Sowdley Forge, 2 Fineries, 1 Chaffery built 2 years, in the place of the old Forge. Trows & Penstocks made new by the Farmers, decayed.

"Lydbrook Furnace, 23ft long, 9 bottom, 23ft deep, new built 3 yrs since from the ground, 3 ft higher than before, much cracked. A great Buttress behind the Furnace to strengthen it.

"Lydbrook Forge.—1 Chaffery, 2 Fineries, House built 4 years, being burnt by accident."

Besides the above, Mr. Wyrrall also transcribed the following additional particulars from a MS. dated 23 September, 1635, and endorsed,—"The booke of Survey for the Forest of Deane Iron work, and the Warrant annexed unto yt."

"Cannope Furnace.—Now blowinge, and likely to contynue aboute 3 weeks. The most part new built, and the rest repaired by the Farmers about 4 years since. Stone walls, about 60lb, consistinge of the stone body thereof 22 foote square, wherein are:—

"In the fore front 4 Sowes of Iron } and the Tempiron Wall 3 Sowes } 7 Sowes.

"A Wheele, 22 Foote diamr, 7 Iron Whops, one the Waste, made about three years since. With Shafte and all things belonginge about 20lb, in good repaire.

"The Furnace Howse half tiled, built with timber 4 years since by the Farmers, cost about 80lb, in repaire.

"The Bridge house, 21 foot broad, 48 foot longe, and 9 foote heigh, built about 2 years since, the bridge about 4 years, covered with bords bottomed with Planks.

"5 bellow bords ready sawed, 18ft longe, 4ft broad. A Watter Trowe 1ft at bottome and 15 ynches high, 75 yards longe, leadinge the water to the Wheele, cut out of the whole tymber, and ledged at the top, newe made within 4 years, and now in repaire, cost about 20lb.

"The Hutch leading the Watter from the Wheele, 5 foot square, 85 foote long, not mended by these farmers, in repaire.

"In doinge of the saied Workes, besids the Hutch used by estimate about 150 Tonns, at VIIIS, and the Hutch about 40 Tonns, being trees only slitt and clapt together at 5s the Ton.

"Outhouses.—The Furnace Keeper's Cabbyne built of timber covered with bords built by the Farmers, cost 3lb, 4 tonns.

"A Cottage neare the said Furnaces built by the workmen of the said Works, now enjoyed by the Filler there, and not belonging to the Workes.

"A Howse wherein the Clarke dwells, built by the Farmers wth a stable, 20 Nobs 6 Tonns.

"Another howse adjoyninge for the founder, built before the Farmers' time.

"Another little cabbyne for the Myne Cracker, built before the Farmers' time.

"8 dozen of Collyers Hurdles, 13s 4d.

"A Myne Kilne not in repaire, built before the Farmers' tyme, with 5 piggs of Iron in the walls, 20s will repaire.

"Cole places.

"Implemnts—one paire of Bellowes furnished with iron implemnts, somewhat defective in the lethers, valued at 15lb, made by the Farmers, the repaire whereof will cost 6lb 13s 4d.

"6 cambes of iron in Wheele Shafte waying about 4cwt.

"3 water Trowes for the Worke.

"1 Grindstone, 19 longe Ringers, 1 short one, 1 Constable, 7 Sinder Shovells, 1 moulding Ship, 2 casting ladles, 1 cinder hooke, 1 Plackett, 2 buck stoves, 1 Tuiron hooke, 1 Iron Tempe, 1 Sinder plate, 1 dame plate.

"4 Wheele barrowes, 1 great Sledge, 1 Tuiron plate cast, 1 Shamell plate, 1 Gage, 1 crackt wooden beame and scales, furnished, and triangles, 1 ton of Wtts, Pigs used for weights upon the bellows poises, 3.5c of Rawe Iron, 1 new firkett in the Backside, 1 lader of 14 rungs, 1 dozen of cole basketts, 2 Myne hammers, 2 Myne Shovells, 2 Coale Rakes, 2 Myne Rakes, 2 baskes to put myne into the Furnace.

"Parke Furnace.—The stone body thereof 22 foote square in the Front, 2 broken sowes, one taken thence, 2 sowes in the Wall.

"Repaired 4 years since by the Farmers, viz., the backe wall from the foundation to the top, and parte of the wall over the Bellows, 40lb it cost.

"The Water Wheele 22ft heigh, wth a Shaft whereon 7 whops, 2 Gudgions and 2 brasses, built about the same tyme, in repaire, valued at 20lb. The Furnace Howse tiled, built with stone wall 9 foot heigh, 22 foote square, the Roof good, built about the same tyme, in repair, saving a Lace by the Bridge. The stone worke valued at 10lb. The Carpenter's worke one the roofe at 20s, the tilinge valued at 6lb 13s 4d.

"A Pent house under the Furnace, 10s.

"The Bridge House 42ft longe, 22ft broad, the said walles 8.5 foot, covered with boards, double bottomed with plancke, upon stronge sleepers, valued at 40lb.

"Fence Walls all built by the Farmers about 4 yeares since.

"100 Foote of trowes made of square timber, hollowed and covered with plancke, valued at 10lb, made by the Farmers.

"Another Water course, built with stone one both sides and covered wth planckes 2.5 foot broad, 46 foot, in repaire, 5lb.

"An Iron cast grate one the same watercourse.

"A watercourse of half a mile one the North of the Furnace, at the head thereof a dam and a small breach, wants soweringe, otherwise good, cutt by the Farmers, and cost them 20lb, and will cost 3lb.

"A Water course of above .5 mile to the South, made before their tyme.

"The Hutch built with stone and covered with plankes of 6 foot heigh, 3 foot broad, 70ft, saving about 11 foot at the vent which is timber, repaired by the Farmers, in repaire, but the Courant stopt below with cinders, 13lb 6s 8d; the cutting of a newe will cost 8lb.

"The Fownder's howse built before the Farmers' tyme.

"A Cottage adjoininge.

"A Cabbyne for the bridge-server, covered with boards, built by them about a yeare since, 3 tonns, 18ft longe, 11 broad, valued at 5lb.

"A Cabbyne adjoining to the Furnace for the Furnace Keeper, about a Tonn, built by the Farmers, and valued at 2lb.

"A Faire Howse, the ends stone built, the rest with Timber 50 foot longe, 16 broad; in it is a crosse building stories heigh, in repaire, tiled, built before the Farmers now granted, with 2 stables belonging, of tymber.

"A smale cottage, now William Wayt's.

"A myne kilne, the inside in decay, the piggs of iron taken out of the draught thereof, the repaire will cost 2lb.

"Tymber in doeinge of } the saied worke .. } 150 Tonnes, worth VIS VIIID the tonne.

"Implemnts.—1 pr bellowes open with the furniture of iron thereto belonging, defective in the lethers, valued at 13lb 6s 8d, the repaire will cost 10lb.; 2 buckstaves, 1 dam-plate, 2 sinder plats, 1 tuiron plate, 1 plackett, 1 gadge, 1 tuiron hoocke, 1 dam hoocke or stopinge hoocke, 4 iron shovells, 9 ringers, 6 cole baskets, 2 wheel barrows, 2 myne hammers, 1 coale rake, 2 cinder raks, 1 great sledge, 1 ringer hammer, 1 constable, 1 shammell plate, 6 iron cambs.

"A beame with scales, hoocks, triangles, and lincks, with about .5 a ton of rawe iron for a wt, in repaire; 1 sowe of iron of 16cwt. which was in the front wall, soe now lyes before the doore, 5lb.

"1 Grindstone, 2 bellowe boards, never used, and 4 old ones, 1lb 10s.

"Collyers' Hurdles.

"The tymber ymployed about the said worke estimated at 140 tonns, and valued at 8s the tonn, 56lb.

"The Repaire of the body of the furnace and the buildings, beames thereto belonginge, and other defects, to make it fit to blowe, estimated at 60lb.

"Parkend Forge—consistinge of 2 hamers, 3 Fyneryes, and 1 chaffery, repayered about 2 years since by the Farmers, viz., 2 newe drome beames, 2 great hamers, shafts with wheeles and armes all newe, the body of the forge repaired in sundry places, one of the fyneryes built newe with the whole and shafts.

"The harmes to the great hamers newe and in repaire, valued at 12lb.

"One other finerye chimney, made within the yeare, 5lb, 3 newe trowes through the bay, 26ft longe a piece, covered with planke one the west side, 13lb 6s 8d.

"The hamer hutch one the west side, heigh and broad one the one side, plancked in the bottome ranges of tymber with spreaders conteyninge 150 foote in length, 40lb.

"The chaffery wheele in the west side, old and decayed, 3lb to repaire it.

"One longe trowe one the est side leadinge the watter to the fynerye, 66 foote longe, 6lb 13s 4d; another great trowe with a penstocke, 32 foote, cost 3lb 6s 8d; 1 great penstocke in the hamer trowe, 14 foot longe, 2 foote square, 40s.

"2 Water Pricke Posts with his laces, 4lb.

"The Hamer Hutch one the west side, 4 foote square, bottoms and sides with plancks, 2 ranges of timber 150 foote longe, 10lb.

"The bodye of one Fynerye wheele all newe, made within 2 yeares last past by the Farmers.

"One little house for the carpenter to work in one the bay.

"Two ranges of tymber worke in the lower side of the bay, consistinge of sils, laces, and posts, built by the Farmers within 2 yeares, 120 foote, 12 heigh, 80lb.

"The front of the bay where the water is led to the west side and drawinge gates built about 2 years since. Stone walls on each side, 5lb.

"A flowd gate with 6 sluices, strongly tymbered, built with stronge wall one either side thereof, 160 foote longe, 3ft heigh, 3 foot thicke, aproned and plancked on the top for a bridge 3 years since, 44 foot longe, 22ft broad, 50lb.

* * * * *

The same careful investigator (Mr. Wyrrall) of every particular relating to the iron-works of the Forest formed a glossary of the terms used in the above specifications, which not only sufficiently explains them, but also shows that very similar apparatus continued to be used in this neighbourhood up to the close of the last century. It proceeds thus:—

"Sows of Iron are the long pieces of cast iron as they run into the sand immediately from the furnace; thus called from the appearance of this and the shorter pieces which are runned into smaller gutters made in the same sand, from the resemblance they have to a sow lying on her side with her pigs at her dugs. These are for working up in the forges; but it is usual to cast other sows of iron of very great size to lay in the walls of the furnaces as beams to support the great strain of the work.

"Dam Plate is a large flat plate of cast iron placed on its edge against the front of the furnace, with a stone cut sloping and placed on the inside. This plate has a notch on the top for the cinder or scruff to run off, and a place at the side to discharge the metal at casting.

"The Shaft of a wheel is a large round beam having the wheel fixed near the one end of it, and turning upon gudgeons or centres fixed in the two ends.

"The Furnace House I take to be what we call the casting house, where the metal runs out of the furnace into the sand.

"The Bridge is the place where the raw materials are laid down ready to be thrown into the furnace. I conceive that it had its name (which is still continued) from this circumstance—that in the infancy of these works it was built as a bridge, hollow underneath. It was not at first known what strength was required to support the blast of a furnace bellows; and the consequence was that they were often out of repair, and frequently obliged to be built almost entirely new.

"Bellows Boards—not very different from the present dimensions.

"Water Troughs—scooped out of the solid timber. This shows the great simplicity of these times, not 150 years ago.

"The Hutch, or as it is now corruptly called the Witch, a wide covered drain below the furnace-wheel to carry off the water from it, usually arched, but here only covered with timbers to support the rubbish and earth thrown upon it.

"Cambs are iron cogs fixed in the shaft to work the bellows as the wheel turns round.

"Cinder Shovels, iron shovels for taking up the cinders into the boxes, both to measure them and to fill the furnace.

"Moulding Ship, an iron tool fixed on a wooden handle, so formed as to make the gutters in the sand for casting the pig and sow iron.

"Casting Ladles, made hollow like a dish, with a lip to lade up the liquid iron for small castings.

"Wringers, large long bars of iron to wring the furnace, that is to clear it of the grosser and least fluid cinder which rises on the upper surface, and would there coagulate and soon prevent the furnace from working aright.

"Constable, a bar of very great substance and length, kept always lying by a furnace in readiness for extraordinary purposes in which uncommon strength and purchase were required. I suppose this name to have been given to this tool on account of its superior bulk and power, and in allusion to the Constable of St. Briavel's Castle, an officer heretofore of very great weight and consequence in this Forest.

"Cinder Hook, a hook of iron for drawing away the scruff or cinder which runs liquid out of the furnace over the dam plate, and soon becomes a solid substance, which must be removed to make room for fresh cinder to run out into its place.

"Plackett, a tool contrived as a kind of trowel for smoothing and shaping the clay.

"Buckstones, now called Buckstaves, are two thick plates of iron, about 5 or 6 feet long, fixed one on each side of the front of the furnace down to the ground to support the stone work.

"Iron Tempe is a plate fixed at the bottom of the front wall of the furnace over the flame between the buck-staves.

"Tuiron Plate is a plate of cast iron fixed before the noses of the bellows, and so shaped as to conduct the blast into the body of the furnace.

"Tuiron Hooke, a tool contrived for conveying a lump of tempered clay before the point of the tuiron plate, to guard the wall from wearing away as it would otherwise do in that part, there being the greatest force of the fire.

"Shammel Plate, a piece of cast iron fixed on a wooden frame, in the shape of a - , which works up and down as a crank, so as for the camb to lay hold of this iron, and thereby press down the bellows.

"Firketts are large square pieces of timber laid upon the upper woods of the bellows, to steady it and to work it.

"Firkett Hooks, two strong hooks of square wrought iron fixed at the smallest end of the bellows to keep it firm and in its place.

"Gage, two rods of iron jointed in the middle, with a ring for the filler to drop the shortest end into the furnace at the top, to know when it is worked down low enough to be charged again.

"Poises, wooden beams, one over each bellows, fixed upon centres across another very large beam; at the longest end of these poises are open boxes bound with iron, and the little end being fixed with harness to the upper ends of the firketts are thus pressed down, and the bellows with it by the working of the wheel, while the weight of the poises lifts them up alternately as the wheel goes round."



No. V. Dr. Parson's description of the mode of making Iron.

"After they have provided their ore, their first work is to calcine it, which is done in kilns, much after the fashion of our ordinary lime-kilns; these they fill up to the top with coal and ore untill it be full, and so putting fire to the bottom, they let it burn till the coal be wasted, and then renew the kilnes with fresh ore and coal: this is done without any infusion of mettal, and serves to consume the more drossy part of the ore, and to make it fryable, supplying the beating and washing, which are to no other mettals; from hence they carry it to their furnaces, which are built of brick and stone, about 24 foot square on the outside, and near 30 foot in hight within, and not above 8 or 10 foot over where it is widest, which is about the middle, the top and bottom having a narrow compass, much like the form of an egg. Behind the furnace are placed two high pair of bellows, whose noses meet at a little hole near the bottom: these are compressed together by certain buttons placed on the axis of a very large wheel, which is turned round by water, in the manner of an overshot mill. As soon as these buttons are slid off, the bellows are raised again by a counterpoise of weights, whereby they are made to play alternately, the one giving its blast whilst the other is rising.

"At first they fill these furnaces with ore and cinder intermixt with fuel, which in these works is always charcoal, laying them hollow at the bottom, that they may the more easily take fire; but after they are once kindled, the materials run together into an hard cake or lump, which is sustained by the furnace, and through this the mettal as it runs trickles down the receivers, which are placed at the bottom, where there is a passage open, by which they take away the scum and dross, and let out their mettal as they see occasion. Before the mouth of the furnace lyeth a great bed of sand, where they make furrows of the fashion they desire to cast their iron: into these, when the receivers are full, they let in their mettal, which is made so very fluid by the violence of the fire, that it not only runs to a considerable distance, but stands afterwards boiling a great while.

"After these furnaces are once at work, they keep them constantly employed for many months together, never suffering the fire to slacken night or day, but still supplying the waste of fuel and other materials with fresh, poured in at the top.

"Several attempts have been made to bring in the use of the sea coal in these works instead of charcoal; the former being to be had at an easy rate, the latter not without a great expence; but hitherto they have proved ineffectual, the workmen finding by experience that a sea coal fire, how vehement soever, will not penetrate the most fixed parts of the ore, by which means they leave much of the mettal behind them unmelted.

"From these furnaces they bring the sows and piggs of iron, as they call them, to their forges; these are two sorts, though they stood together under the same roof; one they call their finery, and the other chafers: both of them are upon hearths, upon which they place great heaps of sea coal, and behind them bellows like those of the furnaces, but nothing near so large.

"In such finerys they first put their piggs of iron, placing three or four of them together, behind the fire, with a little of one end thrust into it, where softening by degrees they stir and work them with long barrs of iron till the mettal runs together in a round masse or lump, which they call an half bloome: this they take out, and giving it a few strokes with their sledges, they carry it to a great weighty hammer, raised likewise by the motion of a water-wheel, where applying it dexterously to the blows, they presently beat it into a thick short square; this they put into the finery again, and heating it red hot, they work it under the same hammer till it comes to the shape of a bar in the middle, with two square knobs in the ends; last of all they give it other beatings in the chaffers, and more workings under the hammer, till they have brought their iron into barrs of several shapes, in which fashion they expose them to sale.

"All their principal iron undergoes the aforementioned preparations, yet for several other purposes, as for backs of chimneys, hearths of ovens, and the like, they have a sort of cast iron, which they take out of the receivers of the furnace, so soon as it is melted, in great ladles, and pour it into the moulds of fine sand in like manner as they do cast brass and softer mettals; but this sort of iron is so very brittle, that, being heated with one blow of the hammer, it breaks all to pieces."



No. VI. Being Minutes, &c., of the Court of Mine Law.

"Forest of Deane to witt.Att a Court of Mine and Miners of Our Sovereign Lord the King, held att the Speech-ouse, in and for the Forest of Deane, on Tuesday the 13th day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight, before Christopher Bond, Esqr, and Thomas James, gentleman, deputyes to the Right Honourable Augustus, Earl of Berkeley, Constable of the Castle of St Briavels, in the County of Gloucester, Christopher Bond, Esqr, gaveller of the said mines, and Phillip Elly, deputy gaveller of the said mines.

"The names of the Jury.—Richard Powell, Simon Bannister, George Thomas, Frances Dutheridge, William Kerr, Richard Hawkins, Joseph Cooper, Samuel Kerr, Henry Roberts, William Meeke, Richard Tingle, James Teague.

"William Gagg otherwise Smith, and his Vearns, against James Bennett and his Vearns.

"I complaine against William Gagge and his Vearns for hindering our levell and doing of us willfull trespas, whereby we have sustained great damage, att a stone (lime) coale worke called Churchway, otherwise Turnbrooke, in the Hundred of Saint Briavels, (as this,) they hindered the levell, and deepwall they would not bring forward to our new pit that was then just downe. We leave this to the best proof & the order.I asked them the reason, and they told me it was to make coale scarce and men plenty; they went back sixteen or eighteen weeks into their scale, contrary to the rule and custom of all free miners beneath the wood with us; and likewise before, they hindered the levell in their new deepit. And wilfully more they cut up to their land gutter, and tooke in the water by a single sticken gutter in their backer deep pit, and turned it across the bottom of our deep pit into our air gutter, which we prepared for ourselves and them, whereby our lamping the charks was swelled downe, and have destroyed the air, and filled our gateway with water and sludge, and very likely to destroy the levells, and put us by getting a scale of coale there. And by their so doing, I and my vearnes are dampnified thirty pounds. All this I will prove myself and by evidence in the King's mine."

Another suit, dated 20th January, 1753, is also subjoined:—

"William Dukes and his vernes, plaintiffs, against William Keare and his vernes, defendants.

"We complain against William Keare and his vernes for wrongfully forbidding us out of a stone coal work, called the Gentlemen Colliers, within the Hundred of St Briavels, that we should not get any coal of the deep side of our former work, which coal our levell drains, and ours being the most ancient level. We leave this to the best evidence.We have attended the place, and burned our light, according to our laws and customs, and through this wrong forbidd we are dampnified five pounds. And whereas several forbidds have been given before, we, the aforesaid plaintiffs and defendants, left the same to the determination of Charles Godwin and Richard James, and we the said plaintiffs have duly observed the said determination, and that the said defendants have gone contrary to an order made by 48 free miners in getting of coal that our levell would have drained, and have dampnified our levell, whereby they have forfeited the penalty of the said Order. And this we will prove by evidence, and the damages in getting coal we will leave to the Order in Ct.

"We deny the forbid given to him or his vernes. We forbidd them in getting any coal betwixt our work and theirs, except their levell could dry it fairly. There was an agreement betwixt us, and they went contrary to the agreement, and this we will prove ourselves and by witnesses."

Here is a copy of an Agreement, resembling no doubt the one mentioned above:—

"August the 8th.—In the ear of our Lord 1754. Aun award, or an Agreement, made by Richard Powell, John Jenkins, Wm Thomas, Thos Worgan, and James Elsmore, betwixt James Bennet and his vearns, belonging to a coale work called by the name off Upper Rockey, and Robert Tingle and his vearnes, belonging to the Inging Coale Work near the Nail Bridge, within the Hunderd of Saint Bravewells; and we have farther agreed that the fore said James Bennet and his vearns shall have the liberty of getting what coale their leavel will dry without being interrupted, but they shall not get coale by the strength of hauling or laveing of water within the bounds of Robert Tingle and his vearns, except to drowl their work, under the forfet of the sum of five pounds; and we do farther agree that Robert Tingle and his vearns shall com in at any time to see if they do carry on their work in a proper manner without trespassing them; and if the foresaid James Bennet and his vearns do interrupt them for comming in to see their work, they shall forfeit the sum of five pounds. And we do order the partys to stand to their expenses share share alike, and the viewers to be paid between both partys, which his fifteen shillings.

"The mark of X RICHD POWELL.

"The mark of X JOHN JENKINS.

"The mark of X JAMES ELSMORE.

"The mark of X Wm THOMAS.

"The mark of X THOS WORGAN."

The following is a specimen of an official "Forbid:"—

"Thomas Hobbs. I do hereby, in his Majesty King George the Third's name, being owner and chief gaveller of his Majesty's Forest of Dean, in the county of Gloucester, and of the coal and mines therein, forbid you, your verns, your servants, agents, or workmen, for getting, diging, or raising any more stone coal out of any fire pitt or pitts, or water pitt or pitts, a deep the Majors suff level gutter in the said Forest, or to permit or suffer any stone coal to be got, dug, or raised out of any such pitt or pitts, untill you have satisfied and paid me his Majesty's gale and dues for working and getting coal in such pitts for two years last past, and untill you agree with me for the gale and dues of such pitt and pitts for the future. If you break this forbid, you will incur the penalty of an Order made by forty-eight free miners.

"Dated this 22d day of } JOHN ROBINSON, &c., May, 1775. } deputy gaveller."

In the terms of a Memorandum, apparently of this date, or perhaps earlier, it is said:—

"The place of gaveler within the Forest of Dean is held by patent from the Crown, & by vertue of his office the gaveler hath a right to put a man to work in every coalwork or work for iron mine within the limitts of the Forest, or within any private person's property in the hundred of St Briavels (but not in any stone quarry that is belonging to Ld Berkeley). This right the gaveler never makes use of by setting his man to work in the mine pitt or coalwork, but lets it out to the partners of the work at such price as he can agree for, which is from twenty shillings to three pounds a work."



NOTES.

{2} It is absolutely certain that the stone may be made to oscillate: indeed one of the Hadnock woodmen states that when sufficient force is applied to it, at the proper point, you can even hear the gravel grinding underneath.

{4} A corruption, apparently, of the British word "crowll," meaning "caves."

{12} We must, however, remember, in calculating the price of labour in the middle ages, that the value of money was about fifteen times greater than at present; and the coins, which were of silver, were double their present weight.

{16} Of these lands the Rev. G. Ridout, the Vicar, has kindly furnished the following list:—

Acres Land near English Bicknor, 199 "Hoarthorns," containing ,, ,, Lydbrook ,, 21 ,, Ruardean ,, 13 ,, ,, ,, 81 ,, Flaxley, Little Dean ,, 94 ,, Abbenhall, "Loquiers" ,, 51 ,, Hope Mansel ,, 41 ,, Weston ,, 37 ,, Lea and Longhope ,, 90 ,, Lydney and Blackney ,, 329 ,, Paster, Nels, and 507 Whitecroft ,, ,, Ellwood ,, 134 ,, Whitemead ,, 220 ,, Bream ,, 213 —— 2030

{18} See ante, p. 7 and 13.

{25} See post, p. 116.

{27} One of them, as a specimen, will be found in the Appendix No. II.

{85} The meat market there is reported to have been much injured long before this time, by the singular circumstance of a murderer, named Eli Hatton, having been gibbeted on Pingry Tump, a point on the Forest hills overlooking the town, the flies from the body being supposed to resort to the meat on the butchers' stalls. The body was cut down in the night time, but the stump of the gallows is yet remembered by old inhabitants as "Eli's Post," and as a spot to be avoided, especially at night.

{87} Mr. C. Meek, of the Morse, has ascertained that Lord Nelson spent the 20th, 21st, 22nd of August, 1802, at Rudhall House, near Ross.

{89} See page 79.

{95} Drawings of the mice were made and sent to Lord Glenbervie.

{111} Warren James was concealed in a coal-pit on Breem's Eaves, and was induced to come up by Thos. Watkins, who had the reward offered for his apprehension. With the exception of his conduct on this occasion, he was a man of good character, and a dutiful and affectionate son to an aged mother, who was supported by him.

{118} The map at page 15 exhibits the direction taken on this occasion.

{122} To such a scheme the chief objection, in the words of the Hon. Thomas Frankland Lewis, appeared to be, that, "unless guarded against by some special provisions, the land will become subject to all the abuses which are so much complained of as to charity lands in general. It is altogether unlike a fund to be raised when and as it is wanted; there it is, and it must and will create objects on which to bestow itself, if it does not find them." The proposition was consequently not carried into effect.

{126} These three gentlemen opened their commission on Wednesday the 5th of September following, at Coleford, and after successive meetings it was there finally closed on Monday, the 20th of July, 1841.

{149a} The same stick was usually employed, being considered by long usage as consecrated to the purpose.

{149b} A pleasing emblem of such improvement seems manifested in the following lines of Richard Morse (a young native Forester), on a "Primrose found in a natural arbour among the large oaks in the Forest."

"Pretty little lonely flower, How I love thy modest blow! Ever grace this little bower, Here in safety ever grow.

"And, if tempted by ambition E'er to leave my humble cot, May I learn from thee submission To be happy with my lot.

"For while storms spread desolation 'Mong the lofty trees around, In thy lowly situation Peace and safety may be found.

"So, when states and empires shaking Bid the rich and great beware, I, comparatively speaking, Am secure from strife and care.

"Though the wintry blast should wither Thy pale blow—thy leaves decay, Gales, the first that spring sends hither, Thy perfume shall bear away.

"And like thee, I too shall perish, When my life's brief summer 's o'er; But there is a hope I cherish, To be blest for evermore.

"Winter past, so drear and hoary, Thou again wilt spring and bloom: So I hope to rise in glory From the darkness of the tomb."

{151} The preservation of the existing crop depends mainly upon the practical inculcation of this principle.

{152} "River Jordan" occurs in the neighbouring parish registers many times during the last 150 years; also "Providence Potter;" one of whose representatives, a sad drunken fellow, once went to his humane squire in great distress. The worthy gentleman, after suggesting various expedients, but to no purpose, at last said—"Well! he could see nothing for it but to trust in Providence." "Lord bless ye, Sir, why, Providence has been dead these ten years."

{163} The Author has had the satisfaction of promoting the erection of a tablet in Holy Trinity Church, to the memory of a man who had been so useful in his generation.

{172} This liberal gift may be regarded as a fitting memorial of Mr. Machen's fifty years' services in connexion with the Forest.

{189} Our best thanks are due to Sir Martin Crawley Boevey, the present Baronet, by whom many of the incidents in this chapter have been communicated.

{191} It is built of the two Forest stones—the red grit with grey stone facings, the stonework throughout being executed in the most perfect manner. The edifice consists of a chancel, nave, and N. aisle, with open oak roofs, covered with Broseley tile, with crease tiles, and the gables are mounted with rich floriated crosses. At the N.W. angle of the building rises in beautiful proportion the tower, capped with a shingle broach spire. The chancel is furnished with a sedile, credence-niche, stalls, reading desk, and lectern. The 3-light E. window by Gerente contains, in twelve compartments, a Personal History of Our Saviour, suggested by the verses in the Litany:—"By the mystery of Thy holy incarnation . . . and by the coming of the Holy Ghost." The other windows, all different in their tracery, are of Powell's quarry glass. The alabaster reredos by Philip exhibits in its three medallions the Feeding of the Multitude, the Institution of the Holy Communion, and the Agony in the Garden; and on the E. wall are illuminated, by Castell, of London, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Creed. The pulpit and font are of Painswick stone, with serpentine marble shafts; and the chancel rails, stalls, open seats, together with an exquisitely worked south porch, are of massive oak.

{197} The new road over the Plump Hill in its formation exposed an ancient mine-hole, in which was found a heap of half-consumed embers, and the skull of what appeared from its tusks to be a wild boar, the fragments perhaps of a feast partaken of by our Forest ancestors.

{198} One, or perhaps two roads, traversing the Forest from north to south, are yet wanting for public accommodation.

{216} Amongst the Patent Rolls of Henry III., dated 1238, occurs one entitled "de forgeis levandis in Foresta de Dean."

{235} At all times obligingly permitted to the Author by Mr. John Atkinson, the Queen's Gaveller.

{264} This large Oak is called "Jack of the Yat." Yat means gate here. It is probably 500 years old. It was struck by lightning a few years since.

{265a} In Sallow Vallets, a quarter of a mile below the Lodge; 90 yards round the outside of the branches.

{265b} This tree about eight feet from the ground separates into two large branches, or rather distinct trees; the rent or chasm in the trunk grows wider, and we have now (i.e. in 1847) fastened the limbs together with iron to prevent its breaking into two parts.

THE END