Legal Definitions - venville

Definition: Venville (ven-vil) is a type of tenure that was unique to the Dartmoor forest area in Devonshire. It granted tenants specific rights within the forest.

One example of a Venville right was the ability to graze livestock in the forest. Another example was the right to collect firewood for personal use.

These examples illustrate how Venville tenants had specific privileges within the forest that were not available to others. They were able to use the resources of the forest for their own benefit, which was a valuable asset in a time when resources were scarce.