FORESTRY 



another picturesque park, extends over 300 acres, harbouring amidst its ancient trees a herd of 250 

 fallow deer. Sainthill is another deer park of small dimensions, its 40 acres being the home of 

 about as many fallow deer. Outside the forest-land of Ashdown, and sole remnant of the numerous 

 deer that once wandered over the woodlands of the archbishops of Canterbury, in the small park 

 called ' Moat ' (the northern portion of the ancient park of Plashet), a small herd of fellow deer 

 is kept. 



Contiguous to the north-eastern part of Ashdown Forest, in the same rape, and originally 

 distinct from that woodland, more perhaps by reason of its different ownership than by its situation, 

 is the forest anciently called Rotherfield Chase, afterwards Waterdown. 



WATERDOWN FOREST occupied the whole of Rotherfield, an extensive parish lying in the north 

 of the rape of Pevensey, east of the forest of Ashdown. Once a possession of King Alfred, 

 Rotherfield was among the lands granted by the Conqueror to Odo his half-brother. His tenure of 

 it was but brief, for he was thrown into prison, and some at least of his possessions confiscated. 

 Among them was Rotherfield, which, consisting largely of forest-land, and also comprising a park, 

 may have on that account particularly appealed to the sporting tastes of William. 



During the life of the Conqueror this manor and park in the woodland remained a royal 

 possession, but in the next reign it came into the hands of Gilbert of Tonbridge, 228 who gave the 

 church of Rotherfield, ' with its lands ' and all that appertained to it, to the monks of Rochester 

 Cathedral. 829 



Gilbert also granted to Rochester ' one stag from my forest every year.' Whether this forest 

 was Waterdown or the forest of Tonbridge across the county border is not clear. Indeed the 

 woodland of Rotherfield was perhaps considered part of the forest of Tonbridge, of which Gilbert 

 was lord. Archbishop John Peckham in 1282, in an Inspeximus, enumerating the various things 

 pertaining to Rotherfield when granted to Rochester, uses the expression ' both in tithes and in 

 hunting rights.' 



The forest itself continued in the possession of the house of Clare for many generations, and it 

 appears probable that it was considered by its lords as ' the south part of their forest of Tonbridge.' 

 In the reign of King John, Richard earl of Clare granted to the Sussex abbey of Bayham pannage 

 for twenty hogs in this ' south part of his forest.' 23 Another part of Waterdown Forest extended 

 on the east into Eridge and Frant ; the portion in the latter parish being of a very open nature, 

 consisting of heath-land and ferny ground. Hence the ancient name for Frant was Ferneth 

 ' fernheath.' 



In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries the Wauton family possessed this part of the forest- 

 land, Sir John de Wauton obtaining a grant of free warren there in the reign of Edward I. 231 From 

 this knight Bayham Abbey obtained rights of pasture and taking wood in ' the common and heath 

 land of Farenth.' 



In the same reign there is record of a poaching offence committed in Waterdown Forest at 

 Rotherfield, by certain persons who had entered the free chase of Gilbert de Clare at Thornbrigge 

 (Tonbridge) and Rotherfield (while the said earl was in the king's service in Wales), and hunted 

 and carried away deer. 232 On the other hand, the jurors of the ' Hundred Rolls ' complained that 

 the earl had appropriated free warren in the hundred of Rytherfeud contrary to ancient usage, and 

 had exceeded the bounds of such as he legally possessed. In 1315 we find Thomas Colepeper 

 obtaining ' the office of forestership of Rotherfield in Tonbridge chace.' 233 The forest was now in 

 the possession of the king's favourite, Despenser, who in 1320 transferred 'Retherfeld manor . . . 

 with 8,OOO acres of wood in Retherfeld, Westpeckam and Tonebrigge ' to Hugh de Audele and 

 Margaret his wife. 234 Hugh fell under the new king's displeasure in 1329, and in January of 

 that year Bartholomew de Burghersh was appointed custodian of ' the forests of Tonebrige and 

 Retherfeld, late (the possessions) of Hugh Daudele.' 235 But the next month, on 6 February, 

 Bartholomew was ordered to deliver these forests back to Hugh Daudele, ' they being in his 

 (Burghersh's) custody by the king's commission.' 236 Seven years later the king ordered de Burghersh 

 to fell and sell timber in places where it would effect the least harm, in the woods or park pertaining 

 to the manor of Rotherfield, ' which he holds by the king's commission.' 237 In the previous year 

 poachers had been active in this forest, and had entered ' the king's free-chace at Retherfeld,' 

 hunted therein, cut down timber, and carried away deer and trees. 238 In 1401 Henry IV granted 

 to 'his knight John Dalynrugge the custody of the lordship of Retherfeld with the chace there to 

 hold during the minority of the heir of Thomas, late lord le Despenser, and so from heir to 

 heir.' 239 He was to undertake the maintenance of all houses, woods, inclosures, and gardens, and 

 meet all charges, and account for any surplus over the value (64*.) set upon the estate. 



"* Mr. Round, in Suss. Arch. Coll. xli, 50. m Reg. Roffensc, 590. I3 Suss. Arch. Coll. ix, 154. 



"' Chart. R. 14 Edw. I, No. 30. "' Pat. 1 1 Edw. I, m. ^. m Orig. R. 8 Edw. II, i. 



334 Pat. 13 Edw. II, m. 3. " Ibid. 3 Edw. Ill, pt. I, m. 38. m Close, 3 Edw. Ill, m. 33. 



' Ibid. 10 Edw. Ill, m. 19. " Pat. 9 Edw. Ill, pt. I, m. 28. " Ibid. 2 Hen. IV, pt. 4. 



323 



