Monument record MDO47575 - Royal Forest of Powerstock

Royal Forest created by King John in 1205, but deforested during the reign of Edward III, (1327-77).

There was a Royal Forest at Powerstock. "The extent of the area under Forest Law can be ascertained in each instance by identifying the bound-marks giving in the Perambulations. Most of these are given in the Pat 6A. in the Public Record Office dated 1296-1300". In the case of Powerstock no attempt has been made to identify the bound-marks. <3> No further information was obtained about the bounds of this Royal Forest during field investigation. <4> The forest was created by King John on lands that he obtained in 1205, and he built a royal residence there in 1206-7. (probably at Powerstock Castle). This comparatively small forest was not affected by the Forest Charter of Henry III in 1217 as it was royal demesne, and a perambulation in 1300 named a forester in fee and verderer. In the time of Edward the Confessor, the manor and Hundred of Powerstock were held by a subject in chief of the king, and hence it became precrically deforested. <1-2> <5>

Record last edited

Dec 18 2023 4:46PM