A HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX 



The woods of Hampstead continued to flourish during the reigns of 

 Edward VI and his two sisters, reaching on the east to the village now 

 known as Kentish Town, and spreading on the west by Belsize and past 

 the Adelaide road to St. John's Wood. With King James Hampstead 

 was a favourite hunting ground ; the plateau on the West Heath, known 

 as King's Hill, is said to be the place whence that king was wont to see 

 the hounds throw off." 



The district of St. John's Wood was so called after its former 

 possessors, the English priors of St. John of Jerusalem, who had their 

 head quarters at Clerkenwell. These woodlands were originally known 

 as Great St. John's Wood, to distinguish them from a Little St. John's 

 Wood at Highbury. 100 



The Order of Hospitallers or Knights of St. John was suppressed 

 by Henry VIII in 1540. Great St. John's Wood was then for a time 

 entrusted to the keepership of John Conway. Certain papers among 

 the Forest Accounts at the Public Record Office for 15412 show that 

 the wood had been well maintained by the priory authorities, and that 

 large quantities of timber and underwood were immediately sold when 

 it came into the hands of the crown : 



Accent of John Conway Esq 101 late keeper of the same Woode Aswell of and 

 for all suche woodes and underwoodes there by hym solde By the vertue of ij severall 

 warrauntes beneth specified to hym in that bihalf directed Anno Regni Regis Hen. 8 

 328 and also for certeyne lodes of wood in the same yere delyued forthe of the said 

 wood to the kinges Ma' use, as of all and all mano r of paym ts costes and expences by 

 the foresaid John Conway had made paid and employed the foresaid xxxii d yere in and 

 about the making carryage and fensyng. And also for the making of new gates w th in 

 the said wood As hereafter pertyclarly within the same accompt more playnely 

 aperithe 



50 lodes of polewood and talwood to the Earl of Sussex by warrant of 14 July 

 2/2 a lode 108/4 



298 lodes of underwood called bushe baven 103 sold to divers persons $ i^d. a 

 lode under warrant of 19 July , 1 7 7*. 8</. 



50 lodes of like bushe baven sold to Geffrey P'st of Westminster by warrant 

 above at 13!^. a lode lesse in the holl l\d. 57*. 6d. 



Of 30 2s. ifd. comyng and rysinge of and for the price of 278 lodes of pole 

 wood and talwood fallen and cut downe within the saide wood not receyved for that 

 the said 278 lodes were delyured forthe of the said wood to the keper of the palice of 

 Westmynster, to the kinges Heignes use as the foresaid John Conway sayethe. 



Sum of the lodes sold 398 Talwood 50 



of the money ^25 8s. 6d. and Baven 348 



At the foot of the account Conway desired to be allowed 9 4-f- 8</. 

 for the making up all this wood into 554 loads at 4^. a load ; stating 

 that he also found additional 722 loads 'made and there lying before the 

 dissoluetion of the said late priorye.' He further asked payment of 

 jfii us. 8<J. for the carriage of 278 loads of wood to the palace of 

 Westminster at lod. a load; 2 iSs. lid. for making and fencing 

 527 perches of new hedge in and about the said wood for the protection 



* White, Hampstead and its Associations, 27. 



100 Walford, Old ana 1 New Land, v, 248. IM Exch. Acct. R. bdle. 148, No. 32. 



101 A baven was a faggot of brushwood bound with a single withe. 



242 



