4 F"i R S T 'REPORT OF THE 



be co;i r :rlf.Te:l as one of the moft .important objccls of inquiry, it mental a very 

 t horon -j h i n veil i gal ion. 



- ' O 



The Commiflioner*- have alfb devoted feme time to the .-cov.fideratiou of the 

 actual fhife of the Timber now in the Foreft of Windfor -, and to the !e!cdicn of 

 fuch places as are belt adapted to produce Timber lit for Naval puniofcs. 



The Comn'iffioiters, as directed by the Act of Parliament, have inquired into 

 the purprefturcs, encroachments and 1 s on the foil- of His Majelly within 



ilie boundaries of Winilfor Foreil ; but although thgy have-roade fome progrefs in 



this inquiry, yet, as the total number of Acres which it is alleged to have been 

 inc.!-. fed without licence is at icaft 500, and as thefe cncroa hi.H-v/ts have be > 

 made by acres and fractions of acres at a time, it has been impoftible to complete 

 'the inveftigatlon. 



From (iiis general view of the various fubjefts which have occup'cd the at- 

 tention of the Commilh'oners, and of the progrefs which they have made in 

 examining the dirlerent objects pointed out by the Aft of Parliament, it is 

 obvious that the)' are not now in a fituation to prefer.t a complete or final 

 Report. At i,he fame time the Commiilioners feel themfelves warranted, 'even in 

 this llage of their proceedings, in making the following Observations, which they 

 have confidercd it to be their duty to take the eariielt opportunity of Hating, 

 for the information of the Lords of His Majefty's Trcai'ury. 



The Cenirniffioners have been able to trace the Boundaries of Wir 

 Foreft as they were ascertained and eiiabiiihed in the reign of Charles the 

 Fiift, with r -enter accuracy and precifion than could have been expected, c-on- 

 fidering the interval of time which has elapfed fincu the Inquiiition \\ as taken 

 tit Twyford. 



In the prefent ftage of the proceedings, it is impoffible to fiate with precision 

 to what degree the interefts of the Crown will be narrowed by the number and 

 extent ef Mane-rial Rights claimed within the Foreft, but at prcfent there i'eems 

 to be reafon to -fuppofe that Mauerial Rights of coitfiderable value and importance 

 to the individuals enjoying them will be eltablifhed by legal evidence. 



The Inhabitants of all or nearly all the. Pariflics within the Foreft of Windfor 

 have claimed, and have proved the avtual -enjoyment of the right to turn co r ?, 

 horfes, iheep and pigs on the Foreft, without limitation as to numbers, and 

 without any reference to the nature or tenure of their po'Ieilions. Many Pariihes 

 have in like manner claimed and proved the enjoyment of a Right of Turbary, 

 and .to cut fern and heath, and to take for private puppcfcs gravel, fand and 

 loam. Whenever all or any of thefe rights have been enjoyed, t to 



have been cxercifed alike by owners and occupiers, by the iuhabi. 

 tenements and modern dwellings. 



It appears to have been formerly the cuftom of the Keepers to whom Ike 

 management of the deer was intrufted, to cut oft' the lops pnd io-s or tender 

 twigs from the trees (and which has been for a great length of time diiiimnMihed 

 by the name of Browfi Jl'oo'.i} ; and theR' twi<j;s or bro 1 were Ic r t on 



the ground, in order that during tlic f'rve.-e weather the deer might llrip off the 

 leaves and bark ; and \vnen the.' t^.i!;s cou'd no longer be iervicoabk- ar- food for the 

 deer, the Inhabii:uits of ancient U ,1 -pents in the neighbourhood were allowed 

 to cany away the browfe Avood ib; fael. Tlic Inhabitants 'of ancient tenements 

 aj>pear alfo to have enjoyed a privilege termed Rootage, or the right to turn ; 

 (under certain rcilriclions, and at Ihited periods) into the woods, for the pin-pole 

 of feeding ou acorns and bee.'h mafts. 



By a moft unwarrantable extenfion of the privilege of taking browfe wood, the 

 Inhabitants at large, without any reflrictiou as to ancient tenements, have, of 

 late, claimed a 'right, either in the cafe of a fail of Timber by order of per 



Officer of'ihe ForefL orln the cafe of a tree being blown down, to carry av:ay the 

 hn-geft hn-nehes, U'Hviiig little more than the trunk ; and by a moft extraordinary 

 pcrverfion of the ' fin Rootage, they have claimed and carried away the roots of 

 the trees. Though thefe pretended rights, with rcfpe6b to lops, tops and rootage, 

 have been c\erci;'..:d in too many inftances, yet they do not appear to have been 

 exereifed wilho'a iflterrapttonj for I'everr-i inftanee-; have oecurrxl in which the 

 .Keepers, being delirous to difcharge their duty with fidelity, Lave cndcavo-.v 



(thougU 



