A visitor’s guide to Ringwood, New Forest

">King Henry VIII granted the Lord of the Manor
Ringwood town used to be an agricultural centre,the right to hold a market in Ringwood on
but the closure of its cattle market in 1989Wednesdays that the town saw a dramatic
significantly reduced traffic to the town and itgrowth in population and housing.
became less important to surrounding farms.Through the ages employment was predominantly
Today, Ringwood provides an attractiveto do with agriculture and the timber trade.
destination for tourists wishing to explore the NewTimber was harvested in the New Forest and
Forest and an historic market town.taken to mills along the River Avon. It
The area of Rimucwude (Rim of the Forest) iswasn’t until the mid 16th Century that it
first documented in 955 and The Doomsday Bookbecame recognised as the main centre for local
(1086) indicated that there was a church and a millproduce and the trading of wild new forest ponies.
at Ringwood. However, it was not until 1226 when