Horewell Forest
Horewell Forest was a Royal forest.[1] In the west, it bordered the river Severn, and Strensham in the south and extended to Pershore.[2] It was partially disafforested in 1229.[1]
In the 1500s, the woodlands known has Horewell Wood still included Strensham Wood, Hill Wood, Earl's Croome, Hill Croome, Croome D'Abitot, Bucknell Wood, Sapyes Wood, Besford and Defford Woods and Severn Stoke.[2] At that time it belonged to the Abbott of Westminster, who granted it in 1542 to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster.[2]
The remnants of the forest are detectable in the local biology, including unimproved commons and remnants of ancient woodlands. This is particularly true of the areas within the former Croome Estate, which includes remnants of the forest and unimproved former common lands.[3]
Notes
References
- Raymond Grant (1991). The royal forests of England. Wolfeboro Falls, NH: Alan Sutton. ISBN 0-86299-781-X. 086299781X.
- 'Parishes: Pershore, St Andrew with Defford and Wick', in A History of the County of Worcester: Volume 4, ed. William Page and J W Willis-Bund (London, 1924), pp. 163–177 http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/worcs/vol4/pp163-177 [accessed 30 August 2015]
- Worcestershire Natural Areas JJ Day, Worcestershire Record, Issue 10, April 2001