Records of the Forest of Dean

Division within F

1662-1946

Records relating to the administration of the Forest of Dean and properties witihn it.

Records of the Deputy Surveyor's Office, including those relating to the Freeminers' Court and the Verderers' Court, are in F 16; those of the Deputy Gaveller's Office are in F 26. Deeds and evidences relating to property in the forest are in F 15, and manorial documents relating to English Bicknor and other manors in Gloucestershire are in F 14

For maps, plans, and drawings, see F 17

For correspondence and papers relating to the administration of the forest, see F 3

For enclosure commissions for the forest, see J 124

Public Record(s)

English

• Forestry Commission, Forest of Dean Deputy Surveyors Office, 1919-1967
• Office of Woods, Forests and Land Revenues, Forest of Dean Deputy Surveyors Office, 1860-1919

4 series

Topics

Manors

The Forest of Dean in the counties of Gloucester, Hereford, and Monmouth was until 1969 independent of the South West Conservancy, having its own Deputy Surveyor. It is by no means heavily wooded throughout, substantial stretches being covered by scrub vegetation. Residents of the area have enjoyed special privileges since medieval times, and peculiar local institutions survive, such as the verderers' court, which has jurisdiction over forest offences and inhabitants.

Mines and quarries have existed within the bounds of the forest since Roman times, and here too the inhabitants have had privileges unknown elsewhere. The crown leases land to individual freemeners with the right to mine or quarry, in return for an annual rent and a small royalty in produce. These areas of land are known as gales, and the granting is arranged through the deputy gaveller, who maintains records of the gales.