Although it is possible that some of the coppiced wood from Bakers Wood was used for charcoal I have never seen any references to this - despite my considerable work on the historical documentation of the Heath and Reach and Leighton Buzzard area.
I would agree with Mr.Ort that any charcoal produced is unlikely to have been used for bread ovens. However, its use in firing brick kilns is more likely. Certainly in the early days of brick kilns charcoal or turf were used to fire them, although wood was the normal fuel: coppiced material could have been supplied direct to the kilns with no need for charcoal. In the Heath and Reach area other major fuel sources were ling (heather) and furze (gorse) gathered from what before the mid 19th century were extensive open heathlands. There are frequent references in documents to furze being used for fuel.
A major user of fuel would have been the brick and tile kiln belonging to the Manor of Leighton Buzzard. This was operational from the late 16th century when it stood somewhere near the "Outwood", another name for Bakers Wood. There are early 17th century records of the tilemaker buying in quantities of underwood (coppiced material) presumably to fire the kiln, though it is uncertain whether this was from King's or Bakers Woods. However, by the early 18th century this kiln had been transferred to Kiln Farm to the west in nearby Soulbury, Buckinghamshire (SP 9067 2870). Other kilns in this vicinity are known to the east of Heath Manor House (SP 9268 2760), operating in the late 19th century, immediately east of Nares Gladley Farm (SP 911 276), also operating in the late 19th century, and along Plantation Road adjoining what was known as the Row Riddy Stone House (SP 9217 2640) which was operating in the 8th century.
We have no information to indicate that there was a kiln at Rushmere Lodge/Rushmere Pond: the latter was already in existence by the early 17th century. You were correctly advised that the lakes at Stockgrove are ornamental: they date from the 1930's and are widenings of the natural stream course there.
I hope this is of some use to you.
Yours sincerely,
Stepehn R Coleman
for the County Planning Officer
(no date)
Text and pictures courtesy of Chris Valentine @2008