Leighfield
Encyclopedia
Leighfield is a civil parish
in the county of Rutland
in the East Midlands
of England
. There is no settlement centre in the parish, only a few isolated properties. In the 2001 census it had a population of 10, which was the fourth smallest of Rutland's parish populations. However it also gives its name to Leighfield Forest, a much larger area from Braunston-in-Rutland
to Stockerston
and from Skeffington
to Ridlington
, a triangle of land roughly 6km in each direction.
straddling the borders of Rutland
and Leicestershire
. It included large numbers of sizeable wooded areas, which would mostly have been individually enclosed. The Forest also included roads, villages and farmland so was not ideal for Forest administration. It had been created soon after Henry I
became king in 1100 and it was initially known as the Forest of Rutland (although a significant portion was in Leicestershire). In 1235 all the Leicestershire sections were released from Forest Law, and in 1299 an eastern section was similarly disafforested.
Abuses by the Royal Officers would seem to have been at least as big a problem as poaching by the lower orders. One forrester was found to be keeping 300 pigs in the woods. In 1269 the forrester Peter de Neville was arraigned by the king's justices for taking for his own use timber, firewood and charcoal to the amount of 7,000 oaks and other trees. At least four deer parks were enclosed within the Forest, at Liddington
, Ridlington
, Flitteris and Cold Overton. Of these only Cold Overton still has ancient woodland. By the late 16th century, the Hastings family
of Ashby de la Zouch were the Forest Wardens. It was by then known as Leighfield Forest, and was administered as three bailiwick
s: Braunston, Ridlington and Beaumont. 33 individual woods are named in an inquisition of 1566, totalling 1060 acres.
The end of the Forest came about in 1630 when Charles I
removed the royal protection, and sold off his lands. It was rapidly given over to agriculture, whether pasture or tillage, and by 1700 nearly all the woodland has been cleared. The surviving ancient woodlands in the area include Prior's Coppice, Owston Woods, Skeffington Woods (listed as Leighfield Forest SSSI) the Launde
woods, Wardley Wood and Stoke Dry Wood. The greater part of the former Forest, including Leighfield parish, is now an open landscape, although with species-rich hedgerows. Removal of many hedgerows during the 20th century has made the Leighfield woodlands increasingly isolated, but the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
's 'Living Landscape' project has targeted Leighfield as one of its landscape-scale projects, and is working with the Forestry Commission
to create new woodlands that can act as links between the ancient sites.f
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the county of Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. There is no settlement centre in the parish, only a few isolated properties. In the 2001 census it had a population of 10, which was the fourth smallest of Rutland's parish populations. However it also gives its name to Leighfield Forest, a much larger area from Braunston-in-Rutland
Braunston-in-Rutland
Braunston-in-Rutland is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. Leicestershire lies on the parish's western boundaryBraunston is located roughly three miles south-west of the county town of Oakham....
to Stockerston
Stockerston
thumb|right|Stockerston parish churchthumb|right|StockerstonStockerston is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, located on the border with Rutland, by the Eye Brook. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 35.The two principle...
and from Skeffington
Skeffington
Skeffington is a village and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. It is situated east of Leicester on the A47 Leicester to Uppingham road, between the parishes of Billesdon and Tugby and Keythorpe....
to Ridlington
Ridlington
Ridlington is a village and civil parish in Rutland in the East Midlands of England.The Church of England parish church is Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Andrew.-External links:*...
, a triangle of land roughly 6km in each direction.
Leighfield Forest
In the early medieval period, Leighfield Forest was an extensive Royal forestRoyal forest
A royal forest is an area of land with different meanings in England, Wales and Scotland; the term forest does not mean forest as it is understood today, as an area of densely wooded land...
straddling the borders of Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
and Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. It included large numbers of sizeable wooded areas, which would mostly have been individually enclosed. The Forest also included roads, villages and farmland so was not ideal for Forest administration. It had been created soon after Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
became king in 1100 and it was initially known as the Forest of Rutland (although a significant portion was in Leicestershire). In 1235 all the Leicestershire sections were released from Forest Law, and in 1299 an eastern section was similarly disafforested.
Abuses by the Royal Officers would seem to have been at least as big a problem as poaching by the lower orders. One forrester was found to be keeping 300 pigs in the woods. In 1269 the forrester Peter de Neville was arraigned by the king's justices for taking for his own use timber, firewood and charcoal to the amount of 7,000 oaks and other trees. At least four deer parks were enclosed within the Forest, at Liddington
Liddington
Liddington is a village near Swindon in Wiltshire, England. The settlement lies south east of Swindon town, close to the M4 motorway, junction 15 of which is about 1.5 kilometres away via the B4192 - known as Purley Road where it passes through Liddington village.The parish as a whole has been an...
, Ridlington
Ridlington
Ridlington is a village and civil parish in Rutland in the East Midlands of England.The Church of England parish church is Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Andrew.-External links:*...
, Flitteris and Cold Overton. Of these only Cold Overton still has ancient woodland. By the late 16th century, the Hastings family
Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
of Ashby de la Zouch were the Forest Wardens. It was by then known as Leighfield Forest, and was administered as three bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
s: Braunston, Ridlington and Beaumont. 33 individual woods are named in an inquisition of 1566, totalling 1060 acres.
The end of the Forest came about in 1630 when Charles I
Charles I
Charles I may refer to:In Kings and Emperors:* Charles I, Holy Roman Emperor or Charlemagne * Charles I of Naples, King of Sicily * Charles I of Hungary, King of Hungary...
removed the royal protection, and sold off his lands. It was rapidly given over to agriculture, whether pasture or tillage, and by 1700 nearly all the woodland has been cleared. The surviving ancient woodlands in the area include Prior's Coppice, Owston Woods, Skeffington Woods (listed as Leighfield Forest SSSI) the Launde
Launde
Launde is a civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, bordering Rutland. The parish is the site of Launde Abbey. It gives its name to an electoral division of Leicestershire that stretches all the way from Scraptoft, Thurnby and Stoughton, near Leicester, to the border with...
woods, Wardley Wood and Stoke Dry Wood. The greater part of the former Forest, including Leighfield parish, is now an open landscape, although with species-rich hedgerows. Removal of many hedgerows during the 20th century has made the Leighfield woodlands increasingly isolated, but the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
The Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust is a wildlife trust covering the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland, England. Founded in 1956, the trust now has 9,000 members helping care for over 30 nature reserves covering more than across the region...
's 'Living Landscape' project has targeted Leighfield as one of its landscape-scale projects, and is working with the Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
to create new woodlands that can act as links between the ancient sites.f