The Influence of People - Gower - page 59

park enclosed a sizable part of the Gower landscape and it is the only definite example to have been es-
tablished inthemedieval lordship.Thepark,whichsurroundsthehouseofParcleBreos,isexceptionally
large and consists of an oval area of about 800 hectares that encloses the valleys of the Green / Llethrid
Cwm and Ilston Cwm. The purpose of a deer park was to supply venison, other meat, wood and timber.
The Normans introduced fallow deer Dama dama , probably at the same time as rabbits Oryctolagus cu-
niculus , and for many centuries they were semi-agricultural animals, which did not roam the countryside,
but which were enclosed in parks or protected in forests. The deer shared the park with sheep or cattle,
the grazing rights being let to local farmers. Deer were probably released from the park onto the Forest
of Fairwood, Lunnon Moor or Cefn Bryn for the chase when required. Retaining deer the rest of the time
ensured a supply of venison throughout the year.