Enfield Chase
Encyclopedia
Enfield Chase is an area in the London Borough of Enfield
, North London
. It was once covered by woodland and used as a royal deer
park. While it is no longer officially a 'place', the Church of England Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Enfield Chase, officially holds that title, which was effectively resurrected in 1883 when the Church was commissioned by Georgiana Twells and built by William Butterfield
.
chace 'a chase', a tract of ground used for breeding and hunting wild animals.
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.
By 1154 what had been known as the Park of Enfield or Enfield Wood had been converted in to 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. In a charter of 1166-89 the hamlet of Southgate
, sited around what is now the famous Charles Holden
Southgate tube 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 8349 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.
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. It was once covered by woodland and used as a royal deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
park. While it is no longer officially a 'place', the Church of England Parish of St Mary Magdalene, Enfield Chase, officially holds that title, which was effectively resurrected in 1883 when the Church was commissioned by Georgiana Twells and built by William Butterfield
William Butterfield
William Butterfield was a Gothic Revival architect and associated with the Oxford Movement . He is noted for his use of polychromy-Biography:...
.
Etymology
Enfield Chase was first recorded as Enefeld Chacee in 1325, chace of Enefelde 1373, from the Middle EnglishMiddle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
chace 'a chase', a tract of ground used for breeding and hunting wild animals.
History
In the reign of Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
the parish of Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
and adjoining parishes were for the most part a forest which was then so extensive that it reached from the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
to about 12 miles (19 km) north. Enfield Chase was part of this forest and also belonged to the citizens of London.
By 1154 what had been known as the Park of Enfield or Enfield Wood had been converted in to 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
Mandeville
-People:*Bernard Mandeville, philosopher*Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex*Geoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex*Sir John Mandeville, French language author*William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex-Places:*Mandeville, Eure, Normandy, France...
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. In a charter of 1166-89 the hamlet of Southgate
Southgate, London
Southgate is an area of north London, England, primarily within the London Borough of Enfield, although parts of its western fringes lie within the London Borough of Barnet. It is located around north of Charing Cross. The name is derived from being the south gate to Enfield Chase...
, sited around what is now the famous Charles Holden
Charles Holden
Charles Henry Holden, Litt. D., FRIBA, MRTPI, RDI was a Bolton-born English architect best known for designing many London Underground stations during the 1920s and 1930s, for Bristol Central Library, the Underground Electric Railways Company of London's headquarters at 55 Broadway and for the...
Southgate tube station
Southgate tube station
Southgate is a London Underground Piccadilly Line station in Southgate. It is located between Arnos Grove and Oakwood stations and is in Travelcard Zone 4.-History:...
, 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 8349 acres (34 km²). By this Act it was cut up and divided among the following authorities:
| To the King | 3218 acres (13 km²) |
| To the Lodges | 313 acres (1.3 km²) |
| To the Enfranchised | 6 acres (24,281.2 m²) |
| To the Manor of Old Ford | 36 acres (145,687 m²) |
| To the Manor of Old Park Enfield Old Park Enfield Old Park was an ancient game reserve located in what is now Enfield, in north London. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Today much of the Park is built over as part of the suburb of Grange Park.-Early history:... |
30 acres (121,405.8 m²) |
| To South Mimms South Mimms South Mimms, sometimes spelt South Mymms, is a village and civil parish forming part of the Hertsmere district of Hertfordshire County Council in the East of England although geographically and historically is in the County of Middlesex.-History:... Parish |
1026 acres (4 km²) |
| To Hadley Parish | 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) |
| To Enfield Parish | 1732 acres (7 km²) |
| To Edmonton | 1231 acres (5 km²) |
| To Tithe Owners | 519 acres (2.1 km²) |
It was extensively deforested after the Act, and only a small amount of the original forest remains, although some areas have been replanted.
Nearest places
- Enfield TownEnfield TownEnfield Town is the historic town centre of Enfield, formerly in the county of Middlesex and now in the London Borough of Enfield. It is north north-east of Charing Cross...
- CockfostersCockfostersCockfosters is a suburb of North London, lying partly in the London Borough of Enfield and partly in the London Borough of Barnet. The counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex respectively are still used in postal addresses.The name has been recorded as far back as 1524, and is thought to be either...
- Grange ParkGrange parkGrange Park is a prominent and well-used public park in downtown Toronto, located south of the Art Gallery of Ontario, beside the Ontario College of Art and Design University , and north of University Settlement House, at the north end of John Street...
- Botany BayBotany Bay, LondonBotany Bay is a hamlet on the northern outskirts of Greater London, and forms part of the London Borough of Enfield. It has a population close to 200. The hamlet is located in the centre of Enfield Chase, on the Ridgeway not far from the M25 motorway, and is about a mile from the railway station at...
- Gordon Hill railway stationGordon Hill railway stationGordon Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Enfield in north London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It was opened in April 1910. The station and the trains serving it are currently operated by First Capital Connect, on the Hertford Loop Line....
Local newspapers
The local newspapers are as of 2011-| Newspaper | Link |
|---|---|
| Enfield Independent | |
| Enfield Advertiser |