Posted by 3rdamazon on March 30, 2009 at 14:25:23 user 3rdamazon.
In Reply to: Re: Braithwaite and Lewthwaite, was Owdon posted by Peter Ceresole on March 29, 2009 at 04:12:10:
There was a massive shortage of oak.
Pope Life in Nelson's Navy- In 1783 there was a survey of British forests which showed only 50,000 loads of timber suitable for shipbuilding compared to 234,000 in 1608 (a load is 50 cubic feet). This at a time when annual naval demand was estimated at 50,000 loads.
So you are quite correct about there beinga major shortage of oak caused by ship-building but that survey only covered 6 forests, they only took ship-building oak from accessible areas.
Also i'd guess (and I am guessing) that the medieval depredations were at least partly driven by a need for more sheep pasture