Forest of Middlesex

Forest of Middlesex

The Forest of Middlesex was an ancient woodland covering much of the county of Middlesex, England that was north of the City of London and now forms the northern part of Greater London. A path was cut through the forest for the creation of Watling Street.[1] At its ancient extent the forest stretched twenty miles north from the city walls at Houndsditch. Following the Norman Conquest it became the royal forest of Middlesex, with citizens of London enjoying the right of free chase by charters granted by Henry I and Henry II.[1]

William Fitzstephen, who died circa 1190, described it as "vast forest, its copses dense with foliage concealing wild animals – stags, does, boars, and wild bulls."[2]

The area was disafforested in 1218 by Henry III, ceasing to be a royal forest, and passing into private ownership. This led to the deforestation of the bulk of the forest and its opening for development and agriculture.[3]

Remaining fragments of the ancient forest include Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood.

References

  1. ^ a b Robinson, W., History and Antiquities of the Parish of Tottenham, (1840)
  2. ^ A description of London, (Florilegium Urbanum), accessed February 11, 2008
  3. ^ "Hickling - Highgate". A Topographical Dictionary of England. 1848. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51030#s26. Retrieved 2008-02-11. 



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Middlesex — For other uses, see Middlesex (disambiguation). Middlesex Ancient and 1889 extent of Middlesex …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesex Centre, Ontario — Middlesex Centre is a township in south western Ontario, Canada. It is located to the north and west of London and is in Middlesex County. The Corporation of the Township of Middlesex Centre, formed on January 1 1998 with the amalgamation of the… …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesex Centre —   Township   The Corporation of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre Motto: You re In The Right Place …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesex County, Connecticut — Location in the state of Connecticut …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesex—London—Lambton — Middlesex (ancienne circonscription fédérale) Pour les articles homonymes, voir Middlesex (homonymie). Middlesex (aussi connue sous le nom de Middlesex London Lambton) fut une circonscription électorale fédérale de l Ontario, représentée de 1968… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Middlesex (electoral district) — Middlesex (also known as Middlesex London Lambton) was a federal electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 1979. It was located in the province of Ontario. This riding was created in 1966 from parts of Lambton… …   Wikipedia

  • Middlesex — /mid l seks /, n. 1. a former county in SE England, now part of Greater London. 2. a borough in central New Jersey. 13,480. * * * Historic county, southeastern England, situated along the River Thames. Its earliest settlements date from 500 BC;… …   Universalium

  • Middlesex (ancienne circonscription fédérale) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Middlesex (homonymie). Middlesex (aussi connue sous le nom de Middlesex London Lambton) fut une circonscription électorale fédérale de l Ontario, représentée de 1968 à 1979. La circonscription de Middlesex… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Royal forest — A royal forest is an area of land with different meanings in England, Wales and Scotland; the term forest does not mean forest as it is understood today, as an area of densely wooded land. There are also differing and contextual interpretations… …   Wikipedia

  • Cockaponset State Forest — Road to Chester Swamp …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”