FORESTRY 



At the time of Domesday's compilation Worth manor was apparently outside the county, since 

 it is entered under Surrey as in the possession of a certain Siward, who held it of Richard of Tonbridge. 

 But the forest which derived its name from Worth appears to have been in the hands of the earls of 

 Warenne, lords of Lewes, since the distribution of lands at the Conquest. It extended over the 

 parishes of Worth, Crawley, Ardingly, Slaugham, and Balcombe. Whatever its ancient area, 

 probably very extensive, in later days it comprised more than 12,000 acres, divided into two parts, 

 east and west, each of 2,567 acres, in five squares ( ? wards). 138 



Parks, or paled inclosures of some kind such as ' parrocks,' were probably formed at an early 

 period within the forest for the purpose of confining deer, driven into them from the woodland at 

 large, in order to fatten them for killing and salting in the autumn for the winter food supply, or 

 for hunting purposes. Such were the Great and Little parks, Crabbet Park on the north, Wakehurst 

 on the east, and Cuckfield park in the south. In these parks and in the woodlands uninclosed 

 within the rape and so in the forest of Worth, the priory of St. Pancras at Lewes had the right of 

 taking venison for the use of the sick and infirm monks. 133 The same religious house held the wood 

 of Homewood (nemus de Hamewuda), a southern offset of the forest, shown on old county maps, not 

 as a park, but as a large uninclosed wood. 134 



The Hundred Rolls disclose many arbitrary proceedings of the lord of Lewes, John de Warenne, 

 in connexion with his forest-land. The jurors of the hundred of Bottingill (which included all 

 the forest of Worth) complained that the crops of the neighbouring tenants were almost destroyed 

 by the ravages of his superabundant game. He had also extended his claim of exclusive hunting 

 rights over almost the whole of his barony of Lewes, not suffering the knights or free tenants to 

 hunt where they had been accustomed to so do. His bailiffs had behaved in equally tyrannical 

 manner in the forest-land, and had destroyed the preserve (vivarium) of Richard de Plaiz, and had 

 cut down his wood at ' Werplesburn,' the Wapsburn of later days. The earl also had declared the 

 chase of 4 le Clers' a forest, and had extended its bounds into the lands of the archbishop of Can- 

 terbury at Lindfield, and had ousted the canons of South Mailing from their hunting rights at 

 Stanmer and Balsdean. 135 As far as ' le Clers ' is concerned it appears that from an early date it 

 had been denominated a forest. Its precise situation is unknown. In some records it is said to be 

 near (juxta) South Mailing ; in another actually at (apud) the same place. It is constantly spoken 

 of as the property of the lords of Lewes ; but frequently as belonging to the canons of South 

 Mailing. In 1236, Sir William de Say, lord of ' Hammes ' (afterwards Hamsey), relinquished 

 (remisit) to the earl of Warenne 



the chase of hart and hind (red deer), buck and doe (fallow deer), hare, fox, and all other wild 

 beasts, both great and small in the woods which are called les Clem, and in all the warrens of the 

 said earl in Sussex. 



He also agreed not to inclose his wood at Hammes, or to hunt in it, or to make a park of it. The 

 earl on his part relinquished to Sir William the fishery of ' Midewinde ' the middle-wind (or bend), 

 in the River Ouse at Hammes and all right to the rabbit warren in the demesne of the 

 same manor. 138 



Walter Bacheler, the earl's forester of Cleres, is recorded in 1287 to have fined Giles de la Beche 

 at the Woodmote court, 'without any cause' said the jurors. 137 



Tyrannical as he was, John de Warenne doubtless was not without just cause of complaint 

 against others. In 1325 he obtained from the king leave of taking steps against 'malefactors' 

 who had hunted and taken his deer in the free-warrens and chases of Worth, ' Claris,' and 

 elsewhere. 138 This is one of many instances in which the chase or forest of Cleres is credited to 

 the lords of Lewes. Yet, somewhat later, a jury replied to an inquisition into the rights and 

 possessions of the small house of religion at South Mailing that the dean and canons ' by ancient 

 custom can and ought to hunt ... in a certain chace in Claris called the chase of the dean and 

 canons of Southmalling, near Horlockescrouch and Raychesgate.' I39 



Meanwhile the arbitrary and illegal proceedings of the earl's forest officials continued, and in 

 1331 the priory of Lewes had cause to obtain an order from the earl restraining the zeal of these 

 persons, in these words : 



Whereas the Bailiffs and Foresters of our woods, waters, and parks challenge and demand of our 

 house of Lewes various things under colour of their office, to wit silver, corn, cheese, and divers repasts 



every year, contrary to the tenour of our foundations, we will and grant that our house of 



Lewes be quit of all such challenges and demands. 140 



137 Horsfield, Hist, of Suss, i, 265. '" Chartul. of Lewes Priory ; Cott. MS. Vesp. F. xv, fol. 16. 



134 Mr. Round thinks ' Hamewuda ' may be Hammerwood near East Grinstead (Suss. Arch. Coll. xl, 69), 

 but that name is clearly derived from some Hammer-pond of the iron-forges, and of very much later origin 

 than the charter of King Stephen which records the grant of this wood. 13S Rot. Hund. (Rec. Com). 



186 Feet of F. Suss, file 13, No. 4. "' Assize R. 924, m. 57. "* Pat. 19 Edw. II, m. 37^. 



138 County Placita, Suss. No. 51 and 65, 40 Edw. III. 14 Misc. Bks. (P.R.O.) B f, fol. 62. 



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