Monument record MDO47885 - Royal Forest of Purbeck

(Centred SY 9581). The Isle of Purbeck was a royal forest in the reign of John (1199-1216) and extended some twelve miles east-west and ten miles in the widest part from north-south. There is frequent mention of the forest between 1240 and 1482 and this is also referred to as a 'warren' and 'chace', an alternative name for the forest, or perhaps part of it, was the 'warren, forest or chace of Corfe'. It was divided into two districts referred to as the 'East and the West Bailiwicks', which were no doubt coterminous with the two hundreds of Hasler and Rowbarrow (see plan). The three principal hunting lodges were at Creech Barrow (SY 98 SW 53), Slepe (SY 98 NE 13) and near Swanage (SZ 08 SW 54). James I is said to have been the last king to hunt in the forest when he visited Corfe in 1615. <1-3>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 463 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Page, W (Ed), 1908, The Victoria History of the County of Dorset 2, 296 (Monograph). SWX1805.

<3> Mills, A D, 1977, The place-names of Dorset, Part 1: the Isle of Purbeck, the hundreds of Rowbarrow, Hasler, Winfrith, Culliford Tree, Bere Regis, Barrow, Puddletown St George, 1-3 (Monograph). SWX972.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456877 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 15 2024 3:30PM