Kinver Forest facts for kids

Kinver Forest was a special type of land called a Royal Forest. This meant it was owned by the King or Queen, mainly for hunting. It was located mostly in Staffordshire, a county in England. Even though it was called a "forest," it wasn't just trees! It included woodlands, open fields, and even villages. The King had special laws here to protect the animals, especially deer, for his hunts.

Where Was Kinver Forest?

Historians believe Kinver Forest was a very large area for a long time. Records from the Domesday Book in 1086 suggest it was similar in size then to how it was in the 1300s. We can figure out its exact size by looking at which places had to follow its special laws.

Forest Boundaries

At its largest, Kinver Forest touched other royal forests. It met Feckenham Forest to the southeast. It also met Morfe Forest to the northwest. The forest probably included areas like Wolverley and Kidderminster. These towns were not part of the forest after the year 1300.

The forest stretched north to Lower Penn and Seisdon. This meant it covered much of the lower River Stour valley. It also covered parts of the Smestow Brook valley. To the west, it reached the border of Shropshire. To the east, it went roughly to the main road from Worcester to Stafford. This road passed through Stourbridge and Wolverhampton. East of Kinver Forest was Pensnett Chase. This was a hunting ground owned by the lords of Dudley.

Changes Over Time

In the 1200s, Worcester Cathedral Priory got special permission. They could appoint their own officers to manage the woods in Wolverley. This meant the King's forest laws had less power in that area.

In 1300, the forest's size was greatly reduced. This was part of something called the Great Perambulation. The new, smaller area mostly included just the parish of Kinver. It also included Ashwood Hay in Kingswinford parish. Another part was Chasepool Hay. These "hays" were special fenced areas. They were used for hunting. Iverley Hay, located in Kinver, was another such hunting area.

Even after these changes, Kingsley Manor remained a separate part of the forest. It was near Tettenhall. This area was known as the Hay of Kingesley in 1358.

Who Looked After the Forest?

Looking after Kinver Forest was a very important job. It was connected to owning the manor of Kinver and Stourton. The person in charge, called the warden, paid the King £9 each year. They also had the duty of keeping the forest safe. From 1388, there was also a separate job called the Riden of the forest.

Hereditary Roles

Some jobs in the forest were passed down through families. For example, the bailiff of Ashwood Hay was a hereditary position. This meant the family who owned Prestwood, Kinver, had to perform this duty.

Important Forest Keepers

In 1454, John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley was given the rights to the grass and acorns in Chasepool Hay. These were called herbage and pannage. When he died in 1487, his grandson, Edward Sutton, 2nd Baron Dudley, became the Lieutenant of the Forest.

Later, the Duke of Norfolk took over these roles. After him, John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland became the Lieutenant. However, these rights went back to the King in 1553. This happened because John Dudley lost his titles and lands.

When Edward Sutton, 4th Baron Dudley got his family lands back, he was given Chasepool and Ashwood Hays. But he did not get Prestwood. This led to a disagreement between his son and Gilbert Lyttelton. Gilbert owned Prestwood. They argued about the border between Ashwood Hay and Prestwood Hill. This happened at the end of the 1500s.

Iverley Hay also had its own keeper in the 1500s. Besides these, the forest had other officials. These included verderers and regarders. They helped manage the forest and its laws.