Learn about the history of the New Forest

The New Forest has a rich and fascinating history dating back to 1079 when the Norman invasion crowned King William the Conqueror who created the Nova forestra or New Forest as a royal hunting ground.  This placed the area under forest law – a dramatic change to the way of life of forest peasants who faced a curtailment of liberty and severe punishment for any interference with the ‘beasts of the chase’.  

Since these times successive influences have shaped both the landscape and the cultural heritage of the area.  Amongst one of the greatest influences was the Tudor period which saw the dissolution of monasteries, the building of two coastal forts at Calshot and Hurst and the legacy of many buildings which can still be seen today in the forest towns and villages.  Hurst Castle briefly held Charles I in 1648 while Calshot Castle was built using stones from Beaulieu Abbey during the Dissolution of the Monasteries.    In more recent times the forest has been altered on a more temporary basis during both world wars.  The construction of airfields on the flat plateaus and the removal of timber for the war effort shaped the landscape even further and left behind a complex and intriguing historical record.

Factsheets

Factsheet 1 - The medieval forest (786 KB)

Factsheet 2 - The influence of the Tudors (726 KB)

Factsheet 3 - The New Forest at war (810 KB)

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