Verderer
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[edit] Origins
Verderers were originally part of the ancient judicial and administrative hierarchy of the vast areas of English forests set aside by William the Conqueror for hunting. The title Verderer comes from the Norman word ‘vert’ meaning green and referring to woodland. These forests were divided into provinces each having a Chief Justice who travelled around on circuit dealing with the more serious offences. Verderers investigated and recorded minor offences and dealt with the day to day forest administration.
[edit] New Forest Verderers
The New Forest Verderers still hold their courts at the Verderers’ Hall in Lyndhurst, Hampshire built around the manor house of the Royal Manor of Lyndhurst in 1388 now known as Queen’s House.
Major changes from the ancient system took place with the passing of The New Forest Act 1877, also known as the Commoners’ Charter. This increased the number of Verderers. The Official Verderer was appointed by the Crown and the others were elected locally by registered commoners living within the New Forest. The Verderers themselves each had to own more than 75 acres in the New Forest with common rights attached. They were expected to control the grazing and health of the animals turned out on the Forest, to make bylaws and regulate rights of common. The reorganised Court of Swainmote was given the status of Petty Sessions and the Verderers powers of a Justice of the Peace.
The 1949 New Forest Act reconstituted the Court of Swainmote. A register of voters was kept by the Verderers and a secret ballot imposed to elect 5 Verderers who join 4 who were nominated by the Forestry Commission, Ministry of Agriculture (now DEFRA), Hampshire County Council and the Countryside Agency, together with the appointed Official Verderer. The Court's powers were strengthened, and fencing of roads began and cattle grids introduced. The Verderers could also grant the Forestry Commission new Inclosures for timber production. Agisters carry out the day to day work with the animals on behalf of the court.
Today the New Forest is a National Park, run by and by an independent organisation operating in a local government framework and funded by central government The Verderers have a new statutory duty to take account of the purposes of National Park designation when making any decision which affects the Park (under section 62 of the Environment Act 1995). The Secretary of State issued guidance to the National Park Authority which emphasises strongly the need for the Authority to develop good working relationships with existing statutory bodies and, in particular, with the Forestry Commission, the Verderers and the Lymington Harbour Commissioners.
The New Forest Verderers still sit in open court most months and members of the public may address them on matters pertaining to the New Forest.
[edit] Forest of Dean Verderers
The Verderers in the Forest of Dean have been in existence since at least 1218 and are charged with protecting the vert and venison of the Forest. They are the last remnant of the traditional forest administration - their structure has been unaltered over the centuries - there are still four verderers just as there has been for the past 800 years. The Verderers are elected by the freeholders of Gloucestershire at the Gloucester Court ( an ancient procedure in its own right) and serve for life. Over the years, the deer in the Dean have fluctuated in numbers and species ( they were totally absent for about 90 years from 1855) but today a herd of about 300 fallow deer inhabits the Forest. The Verderers now meet quarterly in their courtroom in the Speech House, close to the centre of the Forest - see their website for more details.
