FORDINGBRIDGE TO BEAMSHAW. 117 



part of the Conqueror's forest : but cultivation 

 has since encroached upon this part of the ancient 

 wild domain, and pasture and cornfield, fruit and 

 flower garden, orchard and paddock, with their 

 necessary accompaniment of hedgebank and green, 

 winding lane, now occupy the space over which, 

 through wood, copse, glade, heath and moor, 

 roamed the deer and wild boar. That it was an 

 important part of the forest in the Conqueror's 

 day is evident from the fact that guard, during 

 the fence months, was held on its bridge to arrest 

 deer stealers and other ' suspected persons ' who 

 could only get away with their booty at that part 

 by crossing the Avon at this Torde ' which formed 

 indeed the north-western entry into the great wood- 

 lands the lord of the manor being charged with 

 the duty of protecting the king's interests. 



Recrossing the town bridge we take the left 

 turning immediately afterwards and then continue 

 in a north-easterly direction, taking another turning 

 to the left at a fork in the road a few yards 

 further on. On either side we pass cottages sur- 

 rounded by fruit gardens or gardens which are 

 half flower and half fruit gardens. The predomi- 



H 



