Welcome to the
Bradon Forest
The story of the Bradon Forest began many years ago.
The countryside before the Romans came was dominated by the great Braydon Forest, which by most accounts stretched almost from Malmesbury in the east to Cricklade in the north, the River Ray to the west and Wootton Bassett to the south. Purton Stoke was well inside it.
At the time of the Domeday Book 1086, it was a Royal Forest and strict forest laws existed to protect the deer and other wild animals for the King's private sport. Two of the Norman kings, Henry II and John were particularly fond of hunting there, but they increasingly enlarged their boundaries by encroaching on the neighbouring lands. Since this land too became subject to forest law it caused a number of disputes. Henry III in 1217 was forced to issue the Charter of the Forest after which it became necessary to keep a record of the boundary. It also forbade poaching, cutting of trees, digging of ditches, building or fencing, but certain lands or clearings were allowed as common land on which villagers could graze cattle. Rights to pick dead wood were allowed to repair fences in the 'fence month'.
The forests were looked after by a warden appointed by the King, and initially they were Lords of the Manor of Chelworth or the Hundred of Staple. There is a record of the wardens from the twelfth century.
Minor infringements of the Charter were tried in the local courts or 'Swanimotes', and the villages in and around the Forest were required to send representatives. More serious offences were heard at the "Forest Eyre". ...... 2bcontinued.
The countryside before the Romans came was dominated by the great Braydon Forest, which by most accounts stretched almost from Malmesbury in the east to Cricklade in the north, the River Ray to the west and Wootton Bassett to the south. Purton Stoke was well inside it.
At the time of the Domeday Book 1086, it was a Royal Forest and strict forest laws existed to protect the deer and other wild animals for the King's private sport. Two of the Norman kings, Henry II and John were particularly fond of hunting there, but they increasingly enlarged their boundaries by encroaching on the neighbouring lands. Since this land too became subject to forest law it caused a number of disputes. Henry III in 1217 was forced to issue the Charter of the Forest after which it became necessary to keep a record of the boundary. It also forbade poaching, cutting of trees, digging of ditches, building or fencing, but certain lands or clearings were allowed as common land on which villagers could graze cattle. Rights to pick dead wood were allowed to repair fences in the 'fence month'.
The forests were looked after by a warden appointed by the King, and initially they were Lords of the Manor of Chelworth or the Hundred of Staple. There is a record of the wardens from the twelfth century.
Minor infringements of the Charter were tried in the local courts or 'Swanimotes', and the villages in and around the Forest were required to send representatives. More serious offences were heard at the "Forest Eyre". ...... 2bcontinued.
