Ewelme Park - wild beasts and cattle

Although the three components of the park came into single ownership by the mid-15th century, it seems they were not fully incorporated into one for almost 100 years. Would even a wealthy landowner have incurred the expense of maintaining separate park areas if not for a specific reason? E.P.Shirley (English Deer Parks - 1897) noted that separate parks for different kinds of deer were sometimes kept up, with fallow deer being the usual species but with red deer also in a number of the Royal Forests. Park ‘beasts’ could also include roe deer, wild swine, wild cattle, and hares.

The conveyance of the park in 1627 refers to “... hay for the deer and wild beasts in the Park”. The Rev. J. Storer in The Wild White Cattle of Great Britain (1879) commented that the use of that phrase, with ‘deer’ first being mentioned followed by ‘wild beasts’, generally means wild cattle, and this was the distinctive name by which wild cattle were peculiarly known and referred to at many parks where they were found. He consulted Mr. Shirley, who agreed with this interpretation, considering that wild cattle, besides deer, of any animals which could be called ‘wild beasts’ were the only ones requiring hay feed. Several of the appointments of park officials refer to ‘Master of the Wild Beasts’ (e.g. 1536 and 1609).

The first reference I have found to ‘beasts’ as opposed simply to deer comes in the Minister’s Accounts of 1535, referring to hay provided for them. In 1538, although a master of wild beasts had been appointed in 1536, a separate master of the deer was also appointed. Henry Knollys was appointed “Master of the game of wild beasts of Ewelme Park ...” in 1578. The OED gives one definition of ‘game’ as a flock or herd of animals kept for pleasure, giving several examples of its use in this context from 1482, so it seems likely that this appointment referred to the ‘herd of wild beasts’. Based on the numbers of contemporary herds, its likely size could have been in the region of 15-30 beasts plus calves, including five or six bulls. I have so far found no additional written evidence in support.

The earthwork at Digberry could have been a stockade-type feature to contain deer or cattle for overwintering, protection, slaughter or preparation for transport. It is located at the end of a natural funnel forming the southeast corner of the park, with an area of about ten acres, and the surrounding bank remains, even now, are about six feet above adjoining ground level. It is on a road close to the Oxford/Henley road, which would have been convenient for transport of live or carcase animals. Containment of wild cattle would have required such a robust enclosure.