Tunman Wood has existed at least since 1774, and has also been known as Tunman's Wood or Morton Wood. The name is believed to have originated from a one-time gamekeeper, although some stories have the wood as a source of timber for wine casks or beer vats. The wood is also reputed to have been part of the old cross-country route between Temple Bruer and Eagle and was used by the Knights Templar. It was sold in 1900 to a Herbert James Row for £2000 and remained in private ownership until 1939 when it was leased by the Forestry Commission. The wood was considerably extended in 1954 with Corsican Pine along the northern edge and today is a valuable provider of habitat for many forms of wildlife. {1} An area of woodland (all of which is classified as plantation) included in the Nature Conservancy Council's 'Inventory of Ancient Woodland'. Ancient woodland status considered to be probable. {2}