Abbot’s Room at Flaxley Abbey

181

St Anthony’s Well

182

The original Chapel at Flaxley, as it appeared in 1712

189

Flaxley Church, and Abbey in the distance

190

The Tomb of John de Yrall, Forester in Fee, in Newland Churchyard

200

The King’s Bowbearer, from an ancient Tomb in Newland Churchyard

201

“Jack of the Yat,” supposed to be the oldest oak in the Forest

207

The “Newland Oak”

208

An Oak, near York Lodge

209

The Devil’s Chapel, in the Scowles, near Bream

213

“King Arthur’s Hall,” on the “Great Doward”

215

Effigy of a Forest Free Miner, reduced from a brass of the fifteenth century in Newland Church

217

Leather Sole of a Shoe, found in the old workings

218

Iron Mattock-head, 9 inches long, found in the old workings

218

Oak Shovel, 30 inches long, found in the old workings

218

Light Moor Colliery

241

General View of the Centre of the Forest, from the top of Ruardean Hill

244

Geological Map of the Forest

245

Vertical Section of the Plump Hill, according to Mr White’s diagram

248

Forest of Dean to face page

15

General Map of the Forest of Dean

at the end

CHAPTER I.
a.d. 1307–1612.

Origin of the name “Dean”?—The “Buck Stone,” and other Druidical remains—“The Scowles,” &c., and other ancient iron-mines, worked in the time of the Romans—Symmond’s Yat, and other military earthworks—Domesday Book, and investment of this Forest in the Crown—William I., and probable date of Free Miners’ Franchise—Castle of St. Briavel’s first built; Giraldus—Flaxley Abbey founded—King John at Flaxley and St. Briavel’s—The constables of St. Briavel’s and wardens of the Forest—Date of the ruins of St. Briavel’s Castle—Iron forges licensed by Henry III.—Perambulation of 1282, and first “Justice seat”—Seventy-two “itinerant forges” in the Forest—Date of Miners’ laws and privileges—Perambulation of 1302—Edward I., grants in the Forest—Newland Church founded—Free miners summoned to the sieges of Berwick, &c.—Edward II., grants in the Forest—Edward III., ditto—Richard II., ditto—Henry IV., ditto—Henry V., ditto—Henry VI., ditto—Severn barges stopped by Foresters—Edward IV., and retreat hither of the Earl Rivers and Sir J. Woodville—Edward VI. farmed the Forest to Sir A. Kingston—Design of the Spaniards to destroy the Forest—Papers from Sir J. Cæsar’s collection, viz. Sir J. Winter’s negotiations relative to the iron-works, &c.—Blast furnaces erected.

The district known as “the Forest of Dean” is situated within that part of Gloucestershire which is bounded by the rivers Severn and Wye.  Its name is of doubtful origin.  Was it so called from its proximity to the town of Mitcheldean, or Dean Magna, mentioned in Domesday Book, and which, agreeably to its name, is situated in a wooded valley, the word “Dean,” or “Dene,” being Saxon, and signifying a dale or den?—or do we accept the statement of Giraldus,