The Verderers And Their Role

There are four Verderers for the Forest of Dean - just as there have been for at least seven centuries.

The qualification for a Verderer continues by custom - there are no official conditions or regulations. A qualification is to own land within or near the Forest, have good health and be free from other engrossing duties. Verderers are elected for life; unless removed by the sovereign because they were incapacitated by age or illness, or by reason of insufficient qualification. They receive no fee, salary or perquisite – anciently it was a buck and a doe annually ( not taken since the nineteenth century). They cannot be put on assizes or juries, nor act as coroners.

The Verderers now usually meet four times a year when they consider issues of relevance to the vert ( the woodlands and open lands) and venison ( the deer) within the Statutory Forest of Dean (see map). They advise the Deputy Surveyor and his staff on topical issues and also make representations to other administering bodies on issues affecting their interests. The Verderers also oversee sheep grazing by being represented on the multi-agency sheep liaison group.

Important legislation associated with the fulfilment of their role includes:

  • The Dean Forest (Timber) Act 1808
  • The Wildlife Creatures and Forest Laws Act 1971
  • The Forestry Act 1981

The Verderers are:

Dr C.E.Hart OBE, MA, MSc.(Oxon), PhD, FRICS, FICFor.

Elected 18th November 1952

Dr Hart is a Forest Historian, Chartered Surveyor and Chartered Forester and was agent, consultant or manager of many private woodlands and estates throughout Britain. He has been a lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College, examiner at Cambridge University and chairman of local nursery and sawmill companies. He lives in Coleford.

A.M.R.Watts Esq. OBE, JP

Elected 14th July 1980

Mr Watts comes from a well known local family (including a previous Verderer) and he worked in the family businesses. Mr Watts is very active in charitable activities. He lives near Bream.

R.W.Jenkins Esq. JP

Elected 24th July 1992

Mr Jenkins is managing director of a local automotive business and has been actively involved in serving the Forest, most recently through his work as a magistrate. He lives in Christchurch.

R Wright Esq.

Elected 24th July 1992

Mr Wright has been an active member of the Freeminers Association and runs a successful tourism venture focussing on iron ore mining activities in the Forest of Dean at Clearwell Caves. He lives in Edgehills.

The Verderers are serviced by a steward who administers the correspondence, agendas and minutes. The steward since 1987 is Kieron P. Griffin a solicitor practising in Gloucester.

Any correspondence should be addressed to :

The Steward
H.M. Verderers for the Forest of Dean
Hucclecote Court
76 Hucclecote Road
Gloucester

Or by email to kieron@deeandgriffin.co.uk.