LIFE in 17th century Minstead is the subject of a new book by New Forest author Peter Roberts.
The 140-page book provides a fascinating insight into the way people in the parish lived and worked more than 300 years ago.
Many of the villagers kept pigs, horses and cows - and the ancient art of charcoal-making was one of the main industries.
Mr Roberts, a former verderer, has used information from wills and inventories to piece together a detailed portrait of Minstead in the 1600s.
He said: "Even the better off farmers had a very basic way of life and possessed only a few more furnishings than their poorer neighbours.
"The average life expectancy was roughly 30-40 years, much as it is in Third World countries today.
"Many people had two occupations, combining commoning with activities such as charcoal burning or working as a labourer for the Lord of the Manor."
The book will be launched at Minstead village hall tomorrow at 7.30pm. A pound for every copy sold will be donated to the Pahar Trust, which helps to build schools in remote areas of Nepal.
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