Legal Definitions - pannage

Pannage refers to two related concepts, primarily historical, concerning the use of forests for animal feeding:

• First, it describes the right held by an individual or community to allow their livestock, particularly pigs, to forage for fallen nuts, acorns, and other forest floor edibles within a specific woodland area. This right was historically valuable for fattening animals, especially before winter.

• Second, it can refer to the payment made to the owner of a forest in exchange for granting such a right. This payment compensated the landowner for the use of their property and its resources.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of pannage:

• Imagine a medieval village situated next to a sprawling ducal forest. For generations, the villagers held a traditional right, recognized by the local lord, to release their pigs into certain sections of the forest each autumn. This allowed the pigs to feed on the abundant fallen acorns and beech nuts, significantly reducing the cost of feeding them through winter. In this scenario, the villagers possessed the right of pannage.

• Consider a large estate owner in the 18th century who possessed extensive oak woodlands. A local farmer, seeking to fatten his herd of swine, approached the estate owner to request permission to let his pigs forage in the woods for a specific period. The estate owner agreed, but in return, the farmer paid a sum of money – perhaps a few shillings per pig – for the privilege. This payment made by the farmer to the estate owner would be considered pannage.

• In a slightly different context, a historical charter might record that a monastery was granted a specific tract of woodland by a king, but with a condition that the local peasantry retained their ancient pannage rights. This meant that even though the monastery now owned the land, the peasants could still bring their pigs to feed on the fallen nuts without needing to pay the monastery, as their right predated the monastery's ownership. This illustrates the enduring nature of some pannage rights.