Dean Forest Act 1819 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act [for regulating the Exercise of the Right of Common of Pasture in the New Forest in the County of Southampton; for repealing certain Parts of Two Acts passed in the Thirty ninth and Fortieth and the Fifty second Years of His present Majesty and] for the better collection and recovery of the Gale Rents in the Forest of Dean, in the County of Gloucester. |
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| Citation | 59 Geo. 3. c. 86 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 7 July 1819 |
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Status: Amended
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Dean Forest Act 1819 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Dean Forest Act 1819 was an important law made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was passed on July 7, 1819. This law mainly focused on managing the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England.
The main goal of this Act was to make it easier to collect "gale rents." These were special payments made by people who mined coal or iron ore in the Forest of Dean. The Act also dealt with some rules about grazing animals in the New Forest.
Contents
What is an Act of Parliament?
An Act of Parliament is a law made by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Parliament is the main law-making body in the UK. It includes the House of Commons and the House of Lords. When a new law is needed, it goes through many steps. It must be debated and approved by both houses. Finally, the King or Queen gives it "Royal Assent." This makes it an official law.
The Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a historic area in Gloucestershire, England. It has been a royal forest for hundreds of years. This means it was once owned by the King or Queen. It was used for hunting and for timber. Over time, people also started mining coal and iron there.
The people who lived in the Forest of Dean had special rights. These rights were often passed down through families. They included the right to mine and to graze animals. These rights were very important to their way of life.
What are Gale Rents?
"Gale rents" were payments made for the right to mine in the Forest of Dean. Miners, called "Free Miners," could dig for coal or iron. In return, they paid a rent to the Crown (the government). This system had been in place for a long time.
Before 1819, collecting these rents was sometimes difficult. The Dean Forest Act 1819 aimed to fix this. It created clearer rules for collecting the money. This helped the government get the payments they were owed. It also helped manage the mining activities better.
Why Was This Act Needed?
By the early 1800s, the old rules for the Forest of Dean were getting complicated. There were many different laws and customs. These made it hard to manage the forest and its resources. The 1819 Act was part of a series of laws. These laws tried to modernize how royal forests were managed. They aimed to make things fairer and more organized.
Changes to the Act Over Time
Laws can change as society changes. Parts of the Dean Forest Act 1819 have been "repealed." This means those parts are no longer valid. They have been removed by newer laws.
- Sections 1 to 6 of the Act were removed in 1971. This was done by the Wild Creatures and Forest Laws Act 1971. These sections likely dealt with older rules about animals and forest management.
- Sections 9 to 11 were also removed in 1971. This happened through the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1971. This Act often removes old laws that are no longer needed.
Even though parts were removed, the Dean Forest Act 1819 was an important step. It helped shape how the Forest of Dean was managed. It also showed how laws adapt over time.
See also
