Morfe Forest facts for kids

Morfe Forest was a special area of land in Shropshire, England, during the Middle Ages. It was known as a royal forest, which meant it was owned by the king or queen. These forests weren't always just thick woods; they were often large areas that included woodlands, open fields, and even villages. The main purpose of a royal forest was for the monarch to hunt wild animals like deer.

Where Was Morfe Forest Located?

In the year 1300, people officially walked around the edges of Morfe Forest to mark its boundaries. This process was called a "perambulation." Knowing these boundaries helps us understand how big the forest was.

• To the west, the forest was bordered by the River Severn, a major river in England.
• To the north, it was next to the River Worfe.
• The forest stretched east towards a place called Abbots Castle Hill.
• To the south, it reached into an area known as Kings Nordley.

At the very heart of Morfe Forest was a large wood. This wood stretched from the town of Bridgnorth all the way to Six Ashes, which is near Enville, and also included the village of Claverley.

Changes Over Time in Morfe Forest

Over many centuries, the landscape of Morfe Forest changed a lot. By the 1600s (the 17th century), much of the original wood had become a heath. A heath is an open area with low-growing shrubs and grasses, not dense trees.

Later, in 1805, this heathland was "enclosed." This means that the land, which might have been used by many people, was divided up and fenced off into private plots. This was a common change in England during that time.

What Does the Name Morfe Mean?

The name "Morfe" comes from a nearby manor, or large estate, also called Morfe. This manor was located in Enville. Interestingly, even though the forest was named after it, the manor itself was not actually part of the royal forest.

Exploring the Name's Ancient Roots

Some historians have suggested that the name Morfe might come from a very old Celtic word, Moerheb. This ancient word could mean "horse bramble," suggesting an area with thorny bushes where horses might have been kept. This idea makes us wonder if horses were raised there even before the Anglo-Saxons arrived in England.

However, the word Moerheb only appears in one old document from 736 AD, called the Ismere Diploma. This document describes land being given to start a church (called a "minster") near the River Stour. It mentions the wood of Cynibre (Kinver) to the north and the wood of Moerheb to the west.

If Moerheb was Morfe Forest, its location wouldn't quite fit with the description in the old document. But, if the minster was at Kidderminster, then the wood of Moerheb could have been an older version of what is now Kidderminster Heath. Today, parts of that area are nature reserves like Devil's Spittleful and Rifle Range Nature Reserve and Habberley Valley.