All Round the Wrekin - The Royal Forest

Forest Law

The Normans introduced a new set of laws that all inhabitants living within 'afforested' areas were forced to obey. By the 13th Century, the whole of Wellington Parish lay within the forest jurisdiction of Mount Gilbert, at a time when up to one third of the population of England was subject to 'forest law'. Harsh rules and punishments were established to deal with any offences against the 'venison and vert' (Wild Boar, Deer and their habitat) and severe restrictions were placed on anything that might interfere with the wild game, from the felling of trees and laying of hedges to gathering firewood and acorns. Those found guilty of illegally hunting venison, for instance, could expect to be outlawed and, in the very worst cases, might even receive the death penalty.