Tag Archives: Norman conquest

New Forest: forest laws, punishment and reform

Nowadays we think of a forest as a place covered in trees but in medieval times it was understood to be a reserve for royal hunting. However, a ‘forest’ could also include whole villages and other settlements, as well as … Continue reading

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The Norman Conquest and being English.

If you had lived in England on this day (16 October) 950 years ago chances are you would be aware that a momentous battle had just been fought, only a few days earlier, near Hastings in Sussex. Even if you didn’t … Continue reading

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New Forest: modern tools and ancient practices

Commoning is an agrarian system that has been practiced on the New Forest since before the Norman Conquest in 1066 and is one of the most ancient forms of agriculture known to man. The basic principles, of farming by using … Continue reading

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