Enfield Chase is a former royal hunting ground in the historic county of Middlesex. Much of the former area of the Chase has been developed, but a large part survives between Cockfosters in the west and Enfield in the east as Trent Country Park.

This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2015)

Enfield Chase
Enfield Chase Location within Greater London
London borough	Enfield
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ENFIELD
Postcode district	EN2
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
London Assembly	Enfield and Haringey
List of places UK England London 51.65589°N 0.09793°W / 51.65589; -0.09793

Etymology

Enfield Chase was recorded as Enefeld Chacee in 1325 and chace of Enefelde in 1373, from the Middle English chace, meaning "a tract of ground for breeding and hunting wild animals".[4]

History

In the reign of Henry II the parish of Edmonton and adjoining parishes were for the most part a forest which was then so extensive that it reached from the City of London to about 12 miles (19 km) north. Enfield Chase was part of this forest and also belonged to the citizens of London.^{[citation needed]}

By 1154 what had been known as the Park of Enfield or Enfield Wood had been converted into a hunting ground, or chase. It appears it was not known as Enfield Chase until the early 14th century. For hundreds of years the chase was owned at first by the Mandeville and then the de Bohun families while local inhabitants of Edmonton and Enfield manors claimed common rights. It is believed that Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I) often hunted on the Chase after she was granted the estate of West Lodge Park by her brother Edward VI in 1547.[4] In a charter of 1166-89 the hamlet of Southgate, sited around what is now Southgate Underground station, receives a mention. It takes its name from its location at the South Gate of the old hunting ground, later known as Enfield Chase.

By an act in 1777, the Enfield Chase ceased to exist as an entity. The Chase then covered an area of 8,349 acres (34 km²). By this Act it was cut up and divided among the following authorities:

It was extensively deforested after the Act, and only a small amount of the original forest remains, although some areas have been replanted. In what is London’s largest reforestation project, Thames21 is working in partnership with Enfield Council to restore 60 hectares in the Salmons Brook catchment, part of the greater River Lea catchment. [5]

Boxer's Lake Open Space in Oakwood is one remnant of the Chase.[6]

See also

• Francis Russell (died 1795)

References and sources

References

Sources

• Delvin, S. (1988) A History of Winchmore Hill. Hyperion Press. ISBN 0-7212-0800-2.
• Newby, Herbert W. (1949) "Old" Southgate. London: T. Grove.

External links

Media related to Enfield Chase at Wikimedia Commons

• https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/today-in-london-rebel-history-poachers-battle-game%C2%ADkeepers-enfield-chase-1725/comment-page-1/