Renamed Needwood Chase or royal forest, it was subsequently owned by the Duchy of Lancaster until it passed into the possession of Henry IV in 1399.

[citation needed] In 1776, Francis Noel Clarke Mundy privately published a book of poetry called Needwood Forest which contained his own poem of the same name and supportive contributions from Sir Brooke Boothby Bt., Erasmus Darwin and Anna Seward.

Gisborne regarded Needwood much as Gilbert White did Selborne, and wrote of his walks in the forest to resist enclosure.

Byrkley Lodge was demolished in 1953, and today its former grounds are the site of the English National Football Centre, St George's Park.

Jackson Bank at Hoar Cross is a mature, mixed 80-acre (320,000 m2) woodland still owned by the Duchy of Lancaster, which is open to the public.

[11] Bagot's Wood near Abbots Bromley claims to be the largest remaining part of the forest.