The ancient Delamere Forest was once known as the twin medieval forests of Mara and Mondrem.

In those early days, it was massive, encompassing 11,000 acres and 50 townships within its boundary. These included Tarporley, Church Minshull, Hartford, Castle Northwich, Little Budworth, and so on. Certain towns like Kelsall, Tarvin and Hockenhall were within its boundary, but not part of it as The Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry held them.

The same applied to Weaverham, Merton and Over as they were classed as being in the liberties of the wealthy Abbot of Vale Royal. Other towns, for instance, those in the Frodsham area were, in the ownership of the Earls of Chester.

The south part of the forest, extending almost to Nantwich, was known as Mondrem. Hence Acton near Nantwich was originally known as Acton in Mondrem.

In 1416 the office of Master Forester and Ranger of the Forest was granted to Thomas Lord Stanley and his heirs.

The Old Pale and The New Pale are within the forest comprising seven hundred and fifty acres.

The area known as The Old Pale was for the exclusive use of His Majesty The King.

John Arden of Harden in the county of Chester held the title of Chief Forester, Bowbearer and Forest Bailiff of the said forest, also known as Delamere.

In 1822 the forest passed to the crown, and all of the above ownership was removed. In 1924, it became part of the Forestry Commission.

That was a very brief look at the history of this significant and extensive forest in the Middle Ages.

Today it is much smaller, covering around 2,400 acres and far more accessible to the ordinary person who, while hiking through it, is unlikely to be subject to punishment if not shot with a bow and arrow by the Forest Bailiff.

If, however, in those far off days, you killed game including deer and wild boar, the punishment would have been mutilation, blinding or the death penalty.

Parts of the forest have been flooded to form moss land.

This large area of woodland with its many paths for walking and riding is usually lined with cars from across the north west as people come to enjoy all that the forest has to offer, welcoming around 750,000 visitors a year.

The railway station within the forest managed to escape the Beeching axe in the 1960s. With its regular Manchester/Chester trains it’s another method of transport for visitors. The forest is also used for outdoor concerts by top acts and shows.