60 THE NEW FOREST 



living in the Forest recollect George Bumstead, 

 keeper of Ashley Walk and district, and, apart 

 from his abnormal proportions, quite the modern 

 prototype of the old-fashioned highly respected 

 New Forest " groom-keeper," as they were called 

 in old days in contradistinction to the " master 

 keeper," or gentleman of high repute, who held 

 appointment by royal favour as governors of 

 sundry " walks." 



In 1789 Anthony Bumstead, groom-keeper of 

 Ashley Walk, gave his (recorded) evidence before 

 the Commission of that year to the effect, inter 

 alia, that he was appointed to that position in 

 1763. Whether he succeeded a forebear or not, 

 I have no record, but it is certain that George 

 Bumstead succeeded his father and grandfather 

 as keeper of Ashley Walk, and we may fairly 

 conclude that there was an unbroken succession 

 from 1763 up to the date of George Bumstead's 

 death about 1890 a record in one family of 

 not far from 130 years. 



So again, William Cooper, keeper of Eye worth 

 Walk, comes 'before the same Commission in 1789 

 and says that he had been appointed some fifteen 

 years before that date. Whether he was the 

 father or grandfather of George Cooper of whom 

 I spoke above, I am not sure; but the latter 

 succeeded as keeper of Boldrewood Walk, and 



