184 DUFFIELD FOREST IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 



In 141 1 a warrant was issued to the Master Forester to deliver 

 to the tenants of Duffield sufficient wood for the rebuilding of 

 their bridge over the Derwent. This and other entries relative 

 to wood for river bridges does not necessarily imply that they 

 v.ere w'ooden bridges, but rather that the timber was used for 

 piles, and for frames and supports during their repair or re- 

 construction in stone. 



By the time that that great sportsman Henry VIII. came to 

 the throne, the stock of deer in Duffield Frith had materially 

 diminished. During the fifteenth century, there were constant 

 proceedings against the tenants and neighbours in good positions 

 for taking the king's deer in this forest. Nevertheless they 

 remained in large numbers at the Wirksworth end of the forest, 

 especially in the parks of Ashleyhay and Alderwasley. That 

 they were still fairly abundant in 1541 is clear from a letter that 

 the Earl of Shrewsbury, the Chief Forester, wrote to the Earl of 

 Southampton on July 6th, hoping that the king, at his coming 

 to Nottingham, would visit his poor house at Wynfeld (Wingfield 

 Manor House) and hunt in Duffield Frith. But before the end 

 of the month the Earl was dead. 



In 1540 a special commission was appointed, under the direc- 

 tion of Sir George Gresley, to take evidence and report by jury 

 as to the waste of wood in this forest during the three previous 

 years. The following is their report in extcnso* : — 



D. S. Rentals and Surveys — . 



The presentement of the Jurye in Duffild ffrith within the 

 County of Derby taken at Duffild Towne on Saynt Lucke day 

 anno Regni Regis Henrici viij the xxxij before Sir George 

 Greyseley knyght Roger Wigston Mathew Knifton Rouland 

 Babyngton esquiers And William Wigston and John Hercoin 

 gentlemen as consernyng wastes of woods don within the said 

 ffrith and parkes by the Kepers ffosters and other officers within 

 the space of iij yeres past as herafter more playnly appereth 

 presentyd by John Ball Thomas Bradshawe Thomas Chawner 



* Duchy of Lancaster, Rentals and Surveys ^. 



