The Royal Hunting Forest 

Laws relating to the forests date back to Saxon times. King Canute, for example, issued a 'Charter and Constitution of Forests.' By the terms of this Charter, verderers were to be appointed in every province of the kingdom; and under the verderers were appointed officers called 'regarders' and 'foresters.' The powers possessed by these officers were quite formidable. For example, if any freeman offered violence to a verderer, he lost his freedom (for which he had probably striven all his working life) and his possessions. For the same offence a villein (labourer) had his hand cut off. For a second offence, a villein could be put to death.

To our modern eyes these seemed harsh penalties.  But one can recall, for example, that sheep-stealing in Scotland was punishable by death until very recent times due to the clan wars between each clan tribe.

For chasing or killing any beast of the forest the punishments were equally severe. For a first offence, a freeman was fined, - no trifling matter in those days, - but a 'bondsman was to lose his skin.' A freeman could keep greyhounds; but unless they were kept at least ten miles from the forest, 'their knees were cut'. Even for Knights and Yeomen, hunting was limited to those parts of the forest beyond the demesne of the lord. Hunting was permitted only under charter from King John who, among other famous monarchs held the prerogatives of the forest. Under this charter, hunters were only allowed to kill foxes, hares, rabbits and any wild beast except stags, roebuck, hind and wild hogs.

A term  called 'hey' recalls the method of hunting whereby animals were driven into specially prepared enclosures where they could be shot by archers. The technique is still used throughout the world today, -tuna fishing, or grouse shooting on the moors, come to mind.

Archery was the prescribed sport of the day; for, not only was it a vital training for hunting, but it was a crucial skill in war, and every able-bodied man was expected to be proficient at the sport.  

In 1228, a 'Charter of Forests,' granted during the minority of Henry III checked the creation of new forests and the extension of old ones. It declared all forests illegal that had been impaled subsequent to 1154. 

Although wood was a readily available fuel, its use for this purpose was strictly controlled. 'Religious men' and the clergy had the right to use the forests and take wood from them.  As late as 1739, owners of land were allowed to take wood, for fuel or building, provided the wood had fallen from the trees. 

Ironically, the excellence of English wood was the prime cause of the forest's literal downfall; for English wood, especially oak, was particularly prized abroad so demand and export grew rapidly. Very soon, many of our national forests were wiped out. It was for this reason that the New Forest was created.

Later, clearings took place, farms were 'aggregated,' common land was enclosed and arable land was converted into pasture. 

Some historical uses of timber prior to the 20^th Century

Taken from: A History of the Mersey Basin. Liverpool University Press.

Marchington connection

The forests must have witnessed much lively activity in the 13th century in the form of hunting and poaching; and this resulted in even livelier activity in the Court House when the miscreants were fined or imprisoned, but unlike most forests there is no evidence of any other form of punishment in the Peak Forest. In fact the greatest offenders of poaching were the foresters themselves, who it would seem took great pride in exposing each other.
It is without doubt that the Marchington's have been recorded as farming in & around the Chapel en le Frith area  of the Peak Forest since the 13 century.
They most probably arrived as Foresters working for the Crown and as such were given land (Burgage) in return for services to the Crown.
Around  A.D. 1100 the Forest was split into three districts, being Longdendale to the north and north west, Hopedale to the East and Campana to the south & south west. As such this area covered some 40 square miles and a number of Forester were required to enforce Forest Law. It is a coincidence that Henry of Ferrers, Norman nobleman, as mention in the Domesday book for Staffordshire and Derbyshire is stated as owning the village of Marchington, situated just inside the Staffordshire border. Henry Ferrers also held Peak Forest villages which included, Wormhill, Middleton and Youlgrave. It could be that the Marchington's arrive in the Peak Forest from the village of Marchington within some capacity of authority on Henry's request. With this in mind it is possible that Henry Ferrers employed his trusted men who he employed throughout his lordship to the positions of Foresters. A Forester would be an hereditary title which would be passed down through the male line. Here are some scene of noblemen & foresters hunting in the Norman period. Scene 1 hunting with dogs.        Scene 2 hunting for hares and the most important hunt for deer  scene 3  

The position of Forester held great statues and was hereditary. Many historic Chapel families have held these positions, as such the Foresters held land leased by the crown to live off.  This led to the creation and building of the Chapel in the Forest and the foundations of the Township of Chapel en le Frith.

There were 16 different Offices in the Kings forests as follows:

High Steward,     Ranger,  County Bailiff,  Master Forester,  Forester of Fee,  Bailiff's Receiver,  Bow Bearer ,   Collector Constable,  Bere Master,   Keepers and Lieutenant,    Bailiff of Franchises,   Verderers,  Warreners,  Bailiff of Winland & Woodward.
Some of these position were not in use in the High Peak forest thou.

Bailiffs & Warreners were paid 4/ per annum in the 13 century along with receiving Robes (uniform). 

Wolf Forester 'hunters of Wolfs' received an extra 6/ per annum and their services & skills were highly prized. There is a mention of King Henry taking some High Peak Wolf Foresters to Normandy to remove wolfs in a forest there.

The biggest poacher charged in the forest was the Forest Steward himself,  in 1216 William de Ferrers was charged with stealing 2000 deer along with 4 others being the Earl of Arundel & De Grelleys. 

No man was allowed to build a house in the forest or assart without a licence from the King. Many did thou, like William Marchington who had his house raised to the ground.

Courts were held to deal with infringements within the forest and as such there are many accounts of poaching amongst other misdemeanors. Follow this link  for a list of offenders who were committed to appear before the court

In the 1600 most of the forest was being cleared and divided into small farms. 
Inevitably, many of the forests fell into disuse as populations increased and settled in towns, stone and brick were increasingly used for building and bigger profits were found in sheep-rearing. The enclosure acts of the 1600's finally put the Forest  out of use and the deer were finally killed off, much to the use of sheep grazing then hunting.