A HISTORY OF LANCASHIRE 



In 1799 Huntley Wood of 385 customary acres (seven and a-half yards) contained 4,188 feet 

 of timber valued at ;^3i4 zs., the bark valued at ;^i88 6j. Heatley contained 370 trees, containing 

 2,060 feet, valued at ;^I07 6x., the bark valued at ;^I48. 



BiLLINGTON "* 



Woods 



Tree 



Feet 



Value 



The largest oaks were in Braddyll Great Wood 



Brockhall Boat Wood | 



The largest ash trees — 



Brockhall Eyes Wood | 



50 

 36 



34 

 45 

 36 



40 

 36 



£ '■ 



3 '5 

 2 14 



2 1 1 



3 7 

 2 14 



I 10 



« 7 



On the Grizedale Hall estate in the parish of Hawkshead the following trees were planted by 

 Mr. Ainslie upon 296 acres of woodlands between the years 1786 and 1821 : — Oaks 76 000 

 ashes 14,500, larches 280,000, Scotch firs 65,000, and about 10,000 various."' The coppice- 

 woods were felled every fourteen years, and as an average example of the value of the produce the 

 following may be given : — Riddings Wood of 2 if acres felled in 1827 — charcoal 85^- dozens of 

 sacks, ^^131 19X. ; bark, 18 tons i6j cwts., ^^169 8s. ; 130 oaks, ^^57 13;. ; ash wood, swill wood, 

 dogwood, and prop wood, 640 feet, ^^27 ; rods, winter hoops, smart hoops, spiles, and spokes, /64 • 

 total, £450.^'^ 



At the present time forestry appears to be at a low ebb in the county, excepting in Lonsdale 

 north of the sands, and one or two other districts. In South Lancashire the woodlands are as a rule 

 of trifling extent and of very inferior character, partly owing to neglect and partly to the deleterious 

 effects of smoke and chemical fumes. Along a great part of the coast-line the effect of gales from 

 the sea and theinborne salt are destructive of the growth of timber, and what exists may be described 

 as lop-sided scrub. Within many miles of the coast line, save in very sheltered and favourable sites 

 it is impossible to grow good larch. In the Windermere and Coniston basins this tree flourishes up 

 to an elevation of 1, 000 feet above sea level, but the difference in value per acre of the timber grown 

 between 200 feet and 1,000 feet of elevation will vary 80 per cent. 



On the Hapton, Towneley, and Worsthorne estates in the north-east of the county, and on the 

 Dunkenhalgh estate the woodlands are for the most part sadly neglected, and very little planting is 

 done. t' 8 



On the Hoghton Tower estate of about 5,150 acres the woodlands extend to 270 acres and lie 

 chiefly on the steep declivities bordering the River Darwen, consisting of sycamore, beech, and oak 



■" Hisi. Soc. of Lanes, and Ches. xxv, 223. 



'" The greater part v^ere planted between 1800 and 18 10 



"' Forestry Bks. at Grizedale Hall. 



464 



