Cobbett's Hampshire, 1830

	Old Hampshire Mapped

	Cobbett's Hampshire Transcription (24)
Greatham Woolmer Forest Headley quagmire quicksand crown land Huskisson, Mr land steward forestry fir woods	previous Upon leaving Greatham, we came out upon Woolmer Forest. ... The man told me, that I must go across the forest. I asked him whether it was a good road: 'it is a sound road,' said he, laying a weighty emphasis upon the word sound. 'Do people go it?' said I. 'Ye-es,' said he. 'Oh then,' said I, to my man, 'as it is sound road, keep you close to my heels, and do not attempt to go aside, not even for a foot.' Indeed it was a sound road. The rain of the night had made fresh horse tracks visible. And we got to Headley in a short time, over a sand-road, which seemed so delightful after the flints and stone and dirt and sloughs that we had passed over and through since the morning! This road was not, if we had been benighted, without its dangers, the forest being full of quags and quicksands. This is a tract of Crown-lands, or, properly speaking, public-lands, on some parts of which our Land Steward, Mr. HUSKISSON, is making some plantations of trees, partly fir, and partly other trees. What he can plant the fir for, God only knows, seeing that the country is already over-stocked with that rubbish. ... ...
geology sand clay oak hare forestry woods	The soil of this tract is, generally, a black sand, which, in some places, becomes peat, which makes a very tolerable fuel. In some parts there is clay at bottom; and there the oaks would grow; but not while there are hares in any number in the forest. If trees be to grow here, there ought to be no hares and as little hunting as possible. next

	Cobbett's Hampshire 1830, contents
	General index (to Old Hampshire Mapped)
	Old Hampshire Mapped

Text HMCMS:B1999.483