 The first recorded wardens were Dodo , Almer & Godric who were named in the Domesday Book ( 1087 ) as " foresters of <unk> " , Withypool having been the ancient capital of the forest . The family of Denys were associated with Ilchester and " Petherton " . William of Wrotham , who died in 1217 , was steward of the forests of Exmoor and North Petherton , Somerset . Walter and Robert were named as foresters of Exmoor when they witnessed an early 13th century grant to Forde Abbey . In 1276 the jurors of <unk> manor made a complaint about John de Camera in the Court of Exchequer in which he was described as forester of Exmoor . 
