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The Oldest Known Boundary of Medieval Sherwood Forest

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for "Engaging people in the heritage, history & archaeology of Sherwood Forest".


Young Archaeology Club Sherwood Forest Trust Magna Carta Sherwood Forest

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World-wide Robin Hood Society

Robin Hood Society Feather in Your Cap Award 2016 Heritage Lottery Fund Archaeology Thynghowe Vikings Sherwood Forest Discover King John's Palace free excavation Robin Hood Town Tours

The Oldest known boundary

The oldest known boundary for Sherwood Forest- or the forest in Nottinghamshire comes from an inquest into the rights of the Arch-Bishop of York with regards to forest laws.

This inquest was held in 1155/6 (see Crook 1994 in bilbliography).

This was at the start of the reign of Henry II.

Henry II was the grandson of Henry I.

Henry I was king from 1100-1135. He died leaving his daugther Matilda on the throne.

She was married to his main rival Geoffrey Planaganet the Duke of Anjou.

The Norman barons feared having the Duke of Anjou on the throne and instead invited Stephen of Blois a Norman lord and nephew of Henry I who became King Stephen of England in 1135.

Matilda and Geoffrey fought back and a civil war known as the 'Anarchy' enveloped England for nearly 20 years.

The ultimate result was that Stephen accepted Matilda  and Geoffrey's son Henry of Anjou as his successor.

Henry became king of England as Henry II in 1154 (reigning until 1189)

He set about restoring his kingdom to how it had been in the reign of his grandfather Henry I.

In Nottinghamshire he held the inquest mentioned above to determine the extent of the forest and the Archbishops rights against it in the reign of his grandfather.

This boundary covered the western half of the county extending from the Trent in the south up the Doverbeck river in the southeast to where it crossed the Kings Highway to York.

It then followed this road to the boundary of the county at Bicarrs Dyke in the far north.

Everything to the west of this line was called the 'old forest in the time of Henry I (1100-1135).

This is interesting in that this area is significantly larger than that defined as Sherwood Forest in the 13th century (see boudaries page).

This boundary includes the area to the north known as 'Hatfield' meaning heath field- a logical inclusion within a forest.


Does this mean the original forest followed this boundary?



















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The Future of Sherwood’s Past

 


Project page links:

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 Project Home page

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About the Project

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Awards

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 Media

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Research Aims

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 Working with Specialists

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Social Media - Follow us

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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey

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Long term Research at 
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest

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The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool

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“Scirwuda- Mapping the Greenwood”: Place-names,
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project

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Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site

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Searching for the 
The Battle of Hatfield

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Edwinstowe Church Survey

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 Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel

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St Mary’s Norton- Cuckney Church Survey

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 Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest

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The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project

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Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project

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The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest

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Sherwood Heath Survey

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 Clipstone Village Dig

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Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel

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Ransom Wood Survey

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Thoresby Estate Survey

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 Robin Hood’s Village Dig

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The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.

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Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey

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World War II in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

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World War I in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

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About Medieval Sherwood Forest

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Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest

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 Outlaws & Villains

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 Historical Research

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 Stories from the Forest

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Book Reviews

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 Bibliography

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 Funding the Project

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 Project Partners

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 Project Sponsors

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 Robin Hood Challenges

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Outreach Bus Tours

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 Links page

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Talks for Groups Archaeological Experiences Field Schools & Training Events Calendar Sherwood Forest Members Area

 


Project page links:

-------------------------------

 Project Home page

-------------------------------

About the Project

-------------------------------

Awards

--------------------------------

 Media

--------------------------------

Research Aims

--------------------------------

 Working with Specialists

-------------------------------

Social Media - Follow us

--------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey

-------------------------------

Long term Research at 
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool

--------------------------------

“Scirwuda- Mapping the Greenwood”: Place-names,
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project

-------------------------------

Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site

-------------------------------

Searching for the 
The Battle of Hatfield

-------------------------------

Edwinstowe Church Survey

-------------------------------

 Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel

-------------------------------

St Mary’s Norton- Cuckney Church Survey

-------------------------------

 Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project

-------------------------------

Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project

-------------------------------

The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest

-------------------------------

Sherwood Heath Survey

--------------------------------

 Clipstone Village Dig

-------------------------------

Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel

-------------------------------

Ransom Wood Survey

-------------------------------

Thoresby Estate Survey

-------------------------------

 Robin Hood’s Village Dig

-------------------------------

The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.

--------------------------------

Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey

--------------------------------

World War II in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

-------------------------------

World War I in Sherwood Forest - Mapping the camps, munitions and more

--------------------------------

About Medieval Sherwood Forest

-------------------------------

Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest

--------------------------------

 Outlaws & Villains

-------------------------------

 Historical Research

-------------------------------

 Stories from the Forest

-------------------------------

Book Reviews

-------------------------------

 Bibliography

-------------------------------

 Funding the Project

-------------------------------

 Project Partners

-------------------------------

 Project Sponsors

-------------------------------

 Robin Hood Challenges

--------------------------------

Heritage Tourism Outreach

-------------------------------

 Links page

-------------------------------