Forests and chases in medieval Ireland, 1169–c.1399

Abstract

Irish forests and chases have been largely ignored by medievalists. Alongside parks and warrens, these were landscapes within which the elite sought to control not only access to hunting, but also to timber and woodland resources. The aim of this paper is to collate and review the evidence for forests and chases in Ireland in the period 1169–c.1399 and to examine the chronology of their creation, their ownership, uses and functions. The paper uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining historical, cartographic and archaeological evidence for past activity and provides an insight into these extensive medieval landscape features. It is demonstrated that in contrast to England, where forests and chases were important as elite hunting landscapes, in Ireland, they were most significant as sources of venison and timber and as a means of giving gifts and offices to high-ranking subjects.