The New Forest Act 1697 (
9 Will. 3. c. 33) was an
Act of the
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England from the 13th century until 1707 when it was replaced by the Parliament of Great Britain. Parliament evolved from the great council of bishops and peers that advised t ...
which provided that "Waste Lands" in the
New Forest
The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featu ...
be enclosed and planted with trees to supply timber for the ships of the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
.
Provisions
Of the total area of the Forest, estimated at 85454
acre
The acre is a unit of land area used in the imperial
Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism.
Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to:
Places
United States
* Imperial, California
* Imperial, Missouri
* Imp ...
s, 1000 acres was to be enclosed "forthwith", a further 1000 acres in 1699, and thereafter 200 acres annually for 20 years. No trees could be felled in the lands without the Navy's approval; timber not claimed by the Navy would be auctioned in nearby towns. After 1716, locals on lands adjoining the enclosures would be permitted to graze animals and gather firewood on the same basis as in
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
El ...
's reign.
Repeal
The whole Act was repealed by section 1(4) of, and the Schedule to, the
Wild Creatures and Forest Laws Act 1971.
See also
*
English land law
English land law is the law of real property in England and Wales. Because of its heavy historical and social significance, land is usually seen as the most important part of English property law. Ownership of land has its roots in the feudal ...
*
New Forest Act 1800
Notes
References
*
*
Halsbury's Statutes
''Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales'' (commonly referred to as ''Halsbury's Statutes'') provides updated texts of every Public General Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Measure of the Welsh Assembly, or Church of England Measur ...
External links
Original text as enacted History of Parliament Trust
Acts of the Parliament of England
1697 in England
1697 in law
English forest law
New Forest
History of the Royal Navy
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