A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



writings, and particularly by the celebrated Quarterly Review articles 

 on arboriculture. 



Except such ordinary work as cutting produce and renewing fences 

 round sundry coppices, very little seems to have been done for the im- 

 provement of the woods in the reign of Charles I., and nothing at all in 

 the time of the Commonwealth. But in that reign an order was given 

 to 'John Chamberlayne of Lindhurst' for the 'new building of diverse 

 lodgings for our use and service adjoining the old house at Lindhurst in 

 the Newe Forest, as alsoe a Kitchyn, pastrie, larder and other offices, 

 and a stable to contain fortie horse.' This 'lodging' is the present 

 King's House at Lyndhurst, so far as the principal rooms are concerned, 

 the older part which contains the room known as the Verderers' Hall 

 and certain other apartments being the 'old house' which had been re- 

 paired and enlarged by an order of Henry VIII. The stable 'for fortie 

 horse' was standing till the early part of this century, and was last used 

 during the time of the war with France for the quartering of a squadron 

 of horse. It has all disappeared except a small fragment of ancient and 

 thick wall which stands in the school playground adjoining the Crown 

 Hotel at Lyndhurst. The site of the stable is granted for a national 

 school, and the 'fortie horse' are replaced by more than three times that 

 number of small scholars. 



More attention was given to the New Forest by Charles II. than 

 had been the case for some years previously. Among other matters the 

 work of enlarging and restoring the King's House was carried on and 

 presumably finished by him. 



Among the State Papers Domestic of 1664 is found a rather re- 

 markable order addressed 



To our right trusty and well-beloved Cousin and Councillor Thomas, Earl of 

 Southampton, our High Treasurer of England . . . Whereas we are informed that there 

 are two coppices, the one called King's Coppice ... the other called New Coppice . . . 

 containing about 100 acres, and that the underwood of the said several coppices are of 

 sufficient growth to be fallen and are valued by the Deputy Surveyor of our woods at 

 1292, besides the trees and saplings therein growing and fit to be preserved for our 

 use . . . We are graciously pleased, upon the humble petition of Winifred Wells, one of 

 the Maids of Honour to our dearest Consort and Queen, to give unto her the benefit 

 of the said underwoods, etc., etc. 



Perhaps this entry speaks for itself, especially if read in conjunction 

 with the account given of the same lady by Mr. Pepys in his diary. 

 A more important order occurs in the Treasury records of December 

 1669, to the effect that 



Whereas His Majesty hath been pleased by warrant under his Royal signature, 

 dated the I3th day of November, to command us to give present order for the 

 enclosing of 300 acres of ground within the New Forest in the County of South- 

 ampton, for a nursery and supply of wood and timber there ; And whereas some of 

 the regarders of the said forest have certified by writing under their hands dated the 

 28th day of Nov r - last that the said 300 acres may most conveniently be taken 

 for the use aforesaid in three several places that is to say, at Priors Acre in the 

 North Bailiwick, 100 acres ; at Dunstan Heath in the Inn Bailiwick, 100 acres more ; 

 and the remaining 100 acres at Holm Hill in Fritham Bailiwick, and that the 

 enclosing thereof with a double ditch and a bank between of six feet and a half high 



450 



