DROXFORD FOREST Clarification

[hscott21]

I have posted previously reqarding Anthony James Brown/e and received great help.  Information received a while back shows that AJB was living at Droxford Forest according to 1851 Census.  Does that mean he was actually living in the forest?  I see others living there too.  Was Droxford Forest another part of Droxford?

[Davedrave]

Droxford appears to be a district with numerous villages and settlements in it. Droxford Forest is referred to on the census form as a hamlet. I haven’t located it on an OS map. It certainly seems unlikely that the people lived in a forest in the sense of living surrounded by trees. It seems to contain some small farms. There is a description of Droxford here:

https://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/167104/

(page 579 etc)

[AlanBoyd]

The word forest can also mean more generally an expanse of uncultivated land. There are a lot of newspaper articles in 1855 about Droxford Forest, an expanse of 1500 acres, being enclosed. I also haven’t found anything on maps.

[Davedrave]

On the Census form there is Sandy Hill Farm and the Black Horse Inn in Droxford Forest, and a Forest Pottery, on this map:

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.3&lat=50.92435&lon=-1.20447&layers=6&b=1

(The farm is below the word “Shedfield”, the inn above, and the pottery a bit further north.)

Suggests that the hamlet may have been in this vicinity.

ADDED: an 1860 newspaper notice confirms that this was the location, in the vicinity of Shedfield and along the road to Bishop’s Waltham.

[hanes teulu]

The word forest can also mean more generally an expanse of uncultivated land. There are a lot of newspaper articles in 1855 about Droxford Forest, an expanse of 1500 acres, being enclosed. I also haven’t found anything on maps.

I'd spotted the 1855 newspaper items and began chasing " Droxford Enclosure 1855" or similar. Found mention of "The Inclosure award 9 May 1855" and the The National Archives has "Oxford Enclosure 1855 tracings and maps for the whole award" - docs held at Hampshire Archives.

[hanes teulu]

Sight of the Tithe maps might deliver but these appear to be available only via a subscription site?

[hscott21]

Thanks so much everyone. Thought it worth clarifying as later Anthony James Browne lived near the Forest of Bere and I have vague recollection of a relative of his  being in charge of the King's hunting forests.

[hscott21]

If of interest....... A quick search reminded me that Anthony James Browne's second wife had a relationship with a Mr Huskisson prior to marrying AJB.  Huskisson was the Deputy Surveyor for the Forest of Bere.

[ebonytreasure]

The Black Horse Inn is now called the Vintage inn, the name has changed several times over the last 30 or so years but wa up until probably 80's still the black horse

I think Droxford Forest looking at the other place names on census docs part of Waltham chase