Chestnuts Lodge (General)
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 11:38 (4678 days ago)
Hi
Just wondered if anyone might know of anything with regard to Chestnuts Lodge, Popes Hill.
Am looking at about 1940ish so if anyone has any information it really would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance
Chestnuts Lodge
by fredb , Sunday, February 05, 2012, 11:53 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
I think the address still exists, or did in the 80's, I'm sure I went there with a mate, probably to do with a TV arial or guttering job. Not been down that road very often sinse then, but somebody here will have more idea.
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 11:54 (4678 days ago) @ fredb
Thank you Fredb :)
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:03 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
I don't know the area particularly but am trying to find it on the oldmaps site. The 1970s map clearly shows Chestnut Farm and Chestnut Cottages. Can you tell me as precisely as possible where the Lodge was/is, eg a roadside, or ?
Thanks.
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:06 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
Hi Jeff
Thanks for trying to help. This is all I have, it is an address on a birth cert :)
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:15 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Hi Janey,
Do you know the area ?
The map shows Chestnut Hill, wooded presumably with chestnut trees, on which is Chestnuts Inclosure. The aforementioned Farm etc is at the base of the hill. I wonder we're after a Forester's Lodge, does this fit with your research wrt the individuals on the certificate ?.
Unfortunately the oldmaps site (do you know it ?) is tricky to move around an area if the site doesnt recognise placenames, its currently playing up !
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:33 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
Hi Jeff
No I dont know the area at all, sorry. I just have the address that is shown on the birth cert.
Thanks again
Janey
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:38 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
I was right (for once!) Janey,
Think your Cerificate was fro a Forester's child.
I hope you can understand my logic, I'm from Cinderford so know the road thro Littledean, around Popes Hill towards Westbury. Imagine you're just leaving Littledean approaching Popes Hill, with the Jail to your left.
IF you could drive straightup the hill to your front, rather than swinging right, then you're driving up Chestnut Hill with Popes Hill "proper" to your right.
At the very summit in the centre of the wood was Chestnuts Lodge, it's clearly marked on the 1923 map but not on the 1953 or later maps. From above its located midway between Greenway to the left (towards Cinderford) and Chestnuts Farm & old quarries on Popes Hill to the right.
For more info on the Lodges, the official home for the King's Foresters, see
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23266&strquery=chestnuts+inclosure
The very last paras say:
"Sites commanding wide views were chosen for the lodges, so that the keepers could watch for fires, timber stealing, or other damage to the plantations. Worcester Lodge is on high ground on the west side of the Cannop valley, Danby Lodge at the summit of a high ridge on the west side of the Blackpool brook valley, and Herbert Lodge faces into the Forest from the south side of Ruardean hill. Latimer Lodge, where a new lodge built on a different but nearby site between 1731 and 1735 replaced the original, stands high on Littledean hill at the north-east rim of the Forest. York Lodge, on a hillside west of Parkend village, is rather less prominently sited. Worcester Lodge is dated 1675, though it was repaired after 1688 when, with the Speech House and York Lodge, it was badly damaged by the rioters. The late 17th-century stone range, similar to a medium-sized farmhouse of the period, has external stacks at each end and a moulded stone doorway in the centre of the eastfront. In the 19th century low additions were made at each end, and in 1911 a twingabled extension, incorporating an existing single-storeyed back kitchen, was made on the west. Danby Lodge, probably built on a plan similar to Worcester Lodge, was remodelled and extended in the 19th century, York Lodge was rebuilt in the 19th century and a new room added at its north end in 1914, and Herbert Lodge was rebuilt or remodelled in the 19th century and again much altered in the late 20th. At Latimer Lodge the building of the early 1730s is a long, symmetrical range with a hipped roof and dormered attics; it was refitted internally in 1906 and later in the 20th century, and the house was converted as four flats c. 1990. The keepers' inclosures of pasture land adjoining the six lodges were largely intact in 1994, that at Worcester Lodge still in Forestry Commission ownership and used as a holiday campsite.
In the early 19th century, when the royal demesne of the Forest was replanted, 24 small lodges were established to house woodmen to guard and maintain the new inclosures. For Shutcastle Inclosure, near Ellwood, a cottage on an old encroachment was bought, and the lodge for Oakenhill Inclosure, near Yorkley, was apparently a cottage that had housed a watchman appointed by the Forest administration c. 1780. The other lodges were new buildings put up between 1806 and 1815, often, like those at Lea Bailey, Serridge, Barnhill, Staple Edge, and Chestnuts, at high and isolated sites in the middle of the inclosures. The small two-storeyed cottages, built of local stone, were identified by an inscription on a window lintel, recording the name, date, and acreage of the inclosure and, usually, the name of the Crown's surveyor general of woods, Lord Glenbervie. The staff of woodmen employed in the Forest was reduced during the 19th century, and by 1897 nine of the cottages were no longer occupied for their original purpose, some being let to forestry workers. During the 20th century several of the cottages were demolished or abandoned to decay, while others, mainly those at the more accessible sites, were sold by the Forestry Commission in the 1960s and early 1970s."
From: 'Forest of Dean: Settlement', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 300-325. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23266&strquery=chestnuts+in...
(NB this site is "the" definitive history and always worth searching).
Some recent photos of these woods are shown
http://www.greenbottom.org/Walks/Chestnuts/index.html
The pink arrow on the Streetmap points to where the Lodge was. I suspect if it remained at all this site would have photos of it; good to see a cat getting some exercise rather than just sitting in front of the fire ;-)
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:42 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
Wow thank you so much for all your help, you have been really kind :)
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:44 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Not at all, easy for someone so pleasant !
Do you know the area, are you local ?.
J
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:48 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
Thank you, I am very grateful as I am doing some research for someone who is not living in England.
Sadly I dont live in the area!
But thank you again for all your help
Janey
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:52 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Fair enough, but please put me out of my mystery; does the certificate relate to a woodman/forester ?.
PS Oops forgot the golden rule, always search this forum too.
This prior thread may be of interest:
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=1166
And particularly re Chestnuts
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=20647
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:55 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
Sadly it is an adoption case, no Father mentioned and mother was a housekeeper lol
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:56 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Thank you, have been looking around the site - it is a great site.
Thank you
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 13:59 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Ah well, but what a superb place to growup in !.
I spent my childhood in the early 70s in the woods above Cinderford, near where Latimer Lodge was, many happy days building camps etc etc. Shame all conifers these days but still better than my West London home now. In fact I dimly recall my friend's dad had a friend who lived in a Lodge, possibly Latimer?. From memory a truly idyllic location away from everyone else (at least great in the summer.., but the snowy winters we used to get...?)
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 14:08 (4678 days ago) @ Jefff
How times change.
I miss London but live in Bucks which is not so bad a place to bring up my kids :)
Thanks again
Chestnuts Lodge
by Danny , Sunday, February 05, 2012, 15:14 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Hello Janey,
around 1950, and a while before but I'm not sure how long, Chestnuts lodge was split into two parts. The one belonged to Nellie Powell, a widow, and her brother Winsor. They had 'Cuddly', an inappropriately named collie dog!!. I had to walk past the thing to go to Primary school each day and it would leap up onto the garden wall snapping and snarling. It terrified me!
The other half of the house was occupied by Mr and Mrs Warwick. Mrs Warwick, Kate, was Nellie's daughter I believe.
the house was modernised in the late 70's, and known as Chestnuts cottage. Externally it looked much the same at that time. It has undergone considerably more modernisation in recent years and is now less recognisable to that in the 40's and 50's.
regards ... Danny
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 15:18 (4678 days ago) @ Danny
Thanks Danny that is brilliant information :)
Chestnuts Lodge
by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 16:25 (4678 days ago) @ Danny
Hi Danny,
thanks for your post. However I feel your memory is playing tricks with you.
The old OS maps very clearly show the "Chestnuts Lodge" to be "gone" by 1953. However these and later maps do show "Chestnuts Cottages", but these are not on the top of the Hill (where a Forester's Lodge would be for lookout purposes), but down at the base of the Hill.
I can check the site later for their exact placement.
Chestnuts Lodge
by unknown, Sunday, February 05, 2012, 16:52 (4678 days ago) @ unknown
Hi Janey
Just had look thro Royal Mail yr 2000 book.
It shows; Chestnut Cottage, Popes Hill, GL14 1LE ( postal area Newnham on Severn)
happy hunting
Forest