The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-23 00:00:00

TVIIICHFORD FOREST.

We have been favoured with the following in-
teresting account of the disafforestation of Which-
wood Forest, in the county of Oxford. At the
commencement of this work the forest comprised an
area of 3,778 a. 2r. 31p., and was subject to the rights
of the Crown, the hereditary ranger, and the com-
moners, the ranger being Lord Churchill, of Corn-
bury-park, Charlbury. The Act for disafforesta-
tion was passed in 1853, and the Commis-
sioners appointed to carry it into effect were
Mr. Serjeant Channell (now one of the Barons
of the Exchequer), Mr. Francis Offiey Martin,
and Mr. Nathan Wetherell, who appointed as
their valuer Mr. Thomas Smith Woolley, of
South Collingham, Notts, and as their surveyor
Mr. William Bryan Wood, of Chippenham, Wilts,
Mr. John Clutton acting as surveyor to estimate
the rights of the Crown. The survey shows that
there were 19 coppices, containing 1,804 a. lr. 27p.,
open forest, much covered with timber and brush-
wood, 1,766 a. 3r. 12p., the lodges, with their enclo-
sures, 195 a. 3r. 33p., and a few encroachments, 11a.
Ir. 39p. ; total, 3,778 a. 2r. 31p. The timber upon
the forest was valued by Mr. Clutton at nearly
£34,000, all realised, except a small quantity left
for ornament. The award of the commissioners
was expected on the 13th of June, 1857, by which
the Crown acquired an allotment of 2,543 a. lr. 15p.
which was subsequently increased by purchase and
otherwise to 2,937 a. Or. 6p., of which about 1,970
acres were unreclaimed forest land. The clearing of
this land commenced in October, 1856, and was
completed in January, 1858, having been in pro-
gress about one year and four months, at a cost of
£5,815. The outlay for reclamation and conversion
was as under :—Clearing, £5,815; fencing, £1,135;
water supply, £350 ; new farm houses and build-
ings, £ll,OOO ; management, £7OO ; contingencies,
£l,OOO ; total, £20,000, including maintenance of
roads and sundry small items of expenditure,
making the cost, in respect of the 1,970 acres con-
verted to arable cultivation little more than £lO
an acre. The new roads, about 10 miles in length,
were made and fenced by the Disafforesting Com-
missioners at a cost of £6,985, which sum was
provided out of a fund raised by the sale of por-
tions of the forest lands. The entire estate is
conveniently arranged in seven farms, which were
let by tender, on leases for 31 years from Oct. 10,
1857, at an average rent of about 28s, per acre for
the land, and an additional sum of £6 per cent. on
the cost of new houses and homesteads, which are
built of the oolitic stone of the district. The mem-
bers of the Land Surveyors' Club, which com-
prises gentlemen from every part of England, in-
spected this great work on the 13th of July last,
upon the invitation of the Crown Surveyor, who
accompanied them, and were much pleased' with
their visit. The general scheme of conversion had
been well matured in the office of her Majesty's
Land Revenue, which is presided over by the
llon. Charles Gore, and the execution of the
work reflects the highest credit on the energy,
talent and judgment of the Crown Surveyor.
From the general comprehensive arrangement
down to the minutest detail, every part has been
maturely considered and admirably executed,
and in every particular with as much regard
to
economy as consists with durability. The build-
ings are conveniently arranged and constructed
without any other ornament than they derive
from excellent proportions, and the sites are
judiciously selected in reference both to the oc-
cupation of the land and the beauty of the pro-
spects; but the extraordinary part of the scheme
has been the marvellous rapidity of its execu-
tion. In the incredibly short space of sixteen
months nearly 2,000 acres of wood were
effectively converted into farming land; the timber
cleared, the roots and underwood stocked and

grubbed, the division fences made, the land pre-
pared for cultivation, and the holdings arranged
and let, and within nine months afterwards the first
crop harvested and the first rent paid. For promp-
titude of execution and quality of work this con-
version of \Vhichwood Forest has hitherto been un-
equalled in this country; and whether it is re-
garded as an undertaking of interest or a lesson of
instruction it is equally worthy of inspection by
the landowner or the professional surveyor. It was
considered by some members of the club the rent
was somewhat high, but Mr. Clutton refuted that
opinion by the fact of the property being free
from tithe rent charge, as well as almost exempt
from poor rates, being by the Act declared a new
parish, called the parish of Whichwood ; and the
roads and building being newly and most substan-
tially made, very little reparation can be required
within the period of thirty-one years. The novel,
skilful, and economical system adopted by some of
the tenants in obtaining their first crop, especially
that of Mr. Belcher, has great merit, and is worthy
of imitation. The well known kindness which
characterises the Crown surveyor will secure the
necessary information to any gentleman who may
desire to inspect this truly national work.—Suffolk
Express.