CHAPTER II. 



HISTORICAL NOTICES OF WOODS AND FORESTS WHICH ARE 

 NOW NO MORE. 



NOT a few of the woods and woodlands, the names of 

 which have been perpetuated in the names still given to 

 localities, have disappeared within the historic period. In 

 reference to the list of forests in England, drawn up by 

 Sir Henry Spelman, and who lived in the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth, it has been stated that out of the forty counties 

 of England only fifteen, consisting chiefly of those situated 

 on the east coast, did not contain forests, while some coun- 

 ties, such as York, contained five or six. All of these 

 forests must have been woodlands; but a writer in 1853 

 tells of them : " Many of the forests here enumerated 

 have now entirely disappeared ; though some of them were 

 of great magnitude and extent. The forests of Cumberland 

 are all now ' naked, desolate scenes ;' in Lancashire it is 

 difficult to find a grove or glade, or anything at all ap- 

 proaching to the idea of a wood ', the great forests of 

 Yorkshire have gone to make room for manufacturing 

 towns and farms, and railroads and canals ; and it is only 

 in the middle and the south of England that any traces of 

 royal Forests remain." I quote the statement without ex- 

 pression of feeling either of rejoicing or of sentimental 

 wistful regret that it should be so : it is the fact alone 

 with which I have to do, and in illustration of what has 

 been implied in what has been stated, I may add that the 

 site of the city of London was previously, it is alleged, a 

 grove of chestnut trees of indigenous growth ; and William 

 Stephanides, or Fitz-stephan, a monk of Canterbury, who 

 was born in London and lived in the reigns of King Stephen. 



