Reading the Forest A history and analysis of Forest of Dean literature Jason Griffiths A thesis submitted to the University of Gloucestershire in accordance with the requirements of the degree of PhD Religious, Philosophical and Historical Studies in the School of Education and Humanities November 2019 Word Count 87,722 Abstract This research identifies for the first time a distinctive body of literary work that is Forest of Dean literature. It establishes a history of this literature from its first appearances at the beginning of the nineteenth century up until the end of the twentieth century. It begins to identify some of the persistent ideas and stories about the Forest in literature, and demonstrates how these relate to changing cultural and economic circumstances. By tracing the origins of the most persistent ideas and stories about the Forest to their first appearances in early-modern British topographies, travel writing, and early county histories, it demonstrates how these influenced subsequent writing set in or about the Forest of Dean. The research reveals how, emerging in the first half of the nineteenth century, four local writers produced novels and poems that began to describe the Forest as a distinctive place with a distinctive history, landscape and culture, and seeks to explain why this was: these are the first examples of Forest of Dean literature. A significant part of the thesis focuses on the development of Forest of Dean literature in the twentieth century and how this too responded to changing circumstances both locally and further afield. The final chapters of the thesis analyse key aspects of Forest of Dean literature: the myth of the Forest as isolated, the Forest as centre rather than periphery, and proposes the concept of a Forest gaze. This research makes a contribution to the understanding of a literature of place, and in particular to demonstrate that the specificity of the Forest of Dean demands that its literature be considered, in-part, on its own terms. It makes a contribution to literary history in general and opens up this rich seam of Forest literature to wider appreciation and scholarly scrutiny. 2 Author Declaration I declare that the work in this thesis was carried out in accordance with the regulations of the University of Gloucestershire and is original except where indicated by specific reference in the text. No part of the thesis has been submitted as part of any other academic award. The thesis has not been presented to any other education institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. Any views expressed in the thesis are those of the author and in no way represent those of the University. Signed Date 22nd November 2019 DOI: 10.46289/WESX0876 3 Acknowledgements There are many people without whose support this thesis would not have been possible: My Supervisory Team of Professor Shelley Saguaro and Dr Hannah Grist. Thank you for your patience, wisdom, guidance and encouragement. And in the early stages of study, Dr Iain Robertson. Anne Dawson, my line manager at the University of Gloucestershire. My colleague Dr Roger Deeks for encouragement, friendship, a supportive listening ear, and taking on a disproportionate amount of work to allow me the time and space to research for and write this thesis. BBC Written Archives Centre, Gloucestershire Archives, Cinderford Library, and The Forester newspaper for access to their archives, and to Katy Beddington for access to the papers of the Harry Beddington estate. Dr Lee Beard for his encouragement, and (though he has probably forgotten now) Dr Paul Harper for a listening ear many years ago. The late Ralph Anstis, for inspiration and friendship. I will forever be in his debt for the bequest of his Forest book collection without which this research may never have begun. And finally, Rachel, my wife, for patience, inexhaustible belief, relentless encouragement and support. My children too for their forbearance. And, the late Valerie Matthews for her strict instructions to complete this thesis, and so it is to her that this thesis is dedicated. 4 Contents Abstract ....................................................................................................... 2 Author Declaration ...................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................... 4 Contents ...................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................. 9 Forest of Dean Literature ......................................................................................................9 Research Approach ............................................................................................................ 11 A Literature of Place........................................................................................................... 13 Not Just the Countryside.................................................................................................... 14 Locating the Forest ............................................................................................................ 16 Structure of the Thesis ....................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 1. ...................................................................................................20 Tracing the Literary Origins of the Forest of Dean ........................................20 Local Histories, Antiquarians and Travel Writing ................................................ 22 Britannia and the Forest of Dean ....................................................................................... 24 The Forest as a Place of Fame............................................................................................ 30 The Forest in the First Gloucestershire County Histories .................................... 34 H. G. Nicholls and the Legacy of Early Depictions of the Forest ........................... 39 Chapter 2. ...................................................................................................48 The Birth of Forest of Dean Literature ..........................................................48 William Wickenden........................................................................................... 50 Richard Morse .................................................................................................. 61 Philip Ducarel ................................................................................................... 65 Catherine Drew ................................................................................................ 71 The Birth of Forest of Dean Literature ............................................................... 79 5 Forest Dialect in Nineteenth-Century Forest of Dean Literature ...................................... 87 Chapter 3. ...................................................................................................96 Forest of Dean Literature in the Twentieth Century ......................................96 A Burgeoning Period for Forest of Dean Literature ............................................. 97 F. W. Harvey ................................................................................................... 100 Harvey the Forest Author ................................................................................................ 101 Harvey’s Forest Poems ..................................................................................................... 103 ‘Them there bears’ ......................................................................................... 107 Warning ............................................................................................................................ 107 John Moore’s Use of the Bear Story ................................................................................ 109 Harry Beddington: ‘However thou bist exin’ vor’t’ .......................................................... 112 Leonard Clark’s Bear Facts ............................................................................................... 113 A Beast with Two Backs ................................................................................................... 113 Harvey’s Understanding of the Forest ............................................................................. 115 Harvey’s Forest of Dean on the Radio .............................................................. 116 The Impact of the Forest on the Radio ............................................................................ 126 Harry Beddington ........................................................................................... 128 Smoking Parties, Clubs, and Developing Work Through Performance ........................... 129 Sharing Stories ................................................................................................................. 130 Harry Beddington and Forest Amateur Drama ................................................................ 133 Harry Beddington’s ‘Comments On Things In General’ ................................................... 138 Beddington’s Use of Forest Dialect .................................................................................. 143 Harvey’s and Beddington’s Forest ..................................................................