Site and history

The forest occupied an area fourteen miles long and four miles wide between the River Soar

River Soar

The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands.-Description:It rises near Hinckley in Leicestershire and is joined by the River Sence near Enderby before flowing through Leicester , Barrow-on-Soar, beside Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near...

 and Rothley Brook

Rothley Brook

The Rothley Brook is a minor waterway in Leicestershire, England. It first becomes noticeable after Thornton Reservoir, near the village of Thornton in the National Forest...

, and covered 5,000 acres. It was described in Domesday Book

Domesday Book

Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...

 as 'Hereswode'. Once owned by Hugh de Grandmesnil

Hugh de Grandmesnil

Hugh de Grandmesnil , also known as Hugh or Hugo de Grentmesnil or Grentemesnil, is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Subsequently he became a great landowner in England.He was the elder son of Robert of...

, ownership passed to successive Earls of Leicester. In the thirteenth century Leicester townsfolk had rights to acquire wood in part of the forest known as the Frith, an area now occupied by western districts of the city of Leicester and Glenfield

Glenfield, Leicestershire

Glenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate...

. The wooded nature of the area declined, resulting in several areas being enclosed to preserve them and the establishment of hunting parks. In 1265 the ownership passed to Edmund Crouchback, and in the fourteenth century it became important as an area for hunting.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the woodland declined due to over-exploitation, unlicenced felling and sheep grazing.

In John Leland's Itinerary, he identified four parks within the forest - 'The Parke of St. Mary Abbey' (Abbey Park), 'Bellemonte's Leye' (Beaumont Leys

Beaumont Leys

Beaumont Leys is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the north-western Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.-Geography:...

), 'Barne Park' (also known as Barrons Park, between Desford

Desford

Desford is a village and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district, west of the centre of Leicester. The parish includes the hamlets of Botcheston and Newtown Unthank and a scattered settlement at Lindridge.-Manors:...

 and Kirby Muxloe

Kirby Muxloe

Kirby Muxloe is a town and civil parish west of Leicester. Its proximity to the city causes it to form part of the Leicester Urban Area. The Leicester Forest East parish border runs along the Hinckley Road A47...

), and 'Tooley Park' (near Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton

Earl Shilton is a small town in Leicestershire, England, some from Hinckley and about 10 miles from Leicester, with a population of around 9,000 .-History:...

). Also within the forest area were Frith Park (the 'New Park', now partly occupied by the New Parks

New Parks

New Parks is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, consisting of the Leicester suburb of New Parks in its entirety.-Geography:...

 housing estate), Lubbesthorpe Park, Brokensale Park, West of Thurlaston

Thurlaston, Leicestershire

Thurlaston is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is in the Blaby local government district. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 745.-External links:* on Blaby District Council website...

, and Newhall Park at Normanton.

In 1628, King Charles

Charles I of England

Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...

 sanctioned the disafforestation of the area, and during the 17th century the forest was sold in parts. In the following centuries, much of the area was cleared to provide land for farming and housing. The forest's name persists in the names of two villages - Leicester Forest East

Leicester Forest East

Leicester Forest East or LFE is a settlement in Leicestershire, England, west of Leicester, straddling the M1 motorway. It is part of the Blaby district.LFE is a popular location among commuters and young families...

 and Leicester Forest West

Leicester Forest West

Leicester Forest West is a hamlet and civil parish in the Blaby district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of about 30, making it much smaller than its neighbour, Leicester Forest East. The village takes its name from the ancient Leicester Forest....

.