SHOOTING RABBITS IN THE FOREST

During the early 1900s, rabbit was as common at meal times as chicken is today. Farmers had a legal right to kill rabbits to protect their crops, but to do likewise in Hainault Forest could lead to a summons and fine. Rabbits were sometimes exchanged by locals and skinned on the bar at The Beehive public house in Lambourne End. Newspaper reports indicate that Charles Martin occasionally disregarded the bye-laws that prohibited hunting in the forest.

This newspaper article appeared in 1904...

"SPORT" IN THE FOREST - Charles Martin, labourer, Chigwell Row, was summoned for a breach of the Hainault Forest bye-laws by firing a gun in the Forest.-- Forester Thurlow said he heard the report of a gun and subsequently saw defendant carrying a gun.-Mr. J. W. Atkinson, who defended, said there was no evidence that defendant fired the gun.-The Chairman: It is the old story, Mr. Atkinson, Not guilty, but don't do it again.-Dismissed.

In 1906, the outcome was different...

Charles Martin, a labourer, of Chigwell Row, summoned for attempting to shoot a rabbit in Hainault Forest, and for damaging a fence, on July 31, was fined 20s. and 4s. costs in each case, at Stratford on Monday.