 Under the ownership of the Bec Abbey , timber from the woods around Ruislip – Park Wood , Mad Bess Wood and Copse Wood – was used in the construction of the Tower of London in 1339 , Windsor Castle in 1344 , the Palace of Westminster in 1346 and the manor of the Black Prince in Kennington . The woods were coppiced on rotation throughout the years with the timber sold to local tanneries . By the time King 's College took ownership of the manor , the woods were let for sport , with pheasants kept for shooting . 
