Monument record 837/1/1 - Old Pale

The Old Pale in Delamere Forest (Forest of Mara). Enclosed in 1237 by the Chief Forester, John Done, who was directed to make a chamber in the forest for the preservation of vert and venison (1). Old Pale possibly included the Master Forester's Lodge (CSMR: 837/1/2), which was itself enclosed in the early 17th century, 'being taken in from the old Forest’. In 1652-3 local commissioners reported that they had viewed the Old Pale and the Old Pale wall and found that no lands were usually ploughed or sown in the Old Pale except 'the Castle Croft upon the top of the Hill adjoining the house called the chamber' (i.e. the Forester's Lodge) (2). The Old Pale is the area immediately about Eddisbury Hill and is an ancient enclosed tract of the Royal Forest (3).

<1> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 20/1-28 Harrison W 1902 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<2> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, 33/81 Stewart-Brown R 1938 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, 3/214 (Y) (Book). SCH3228.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .III p.214 (Book). SCH3228.

<4> Heaton W, 1819, Plan of Delamere Forest (Maps and Plans). SCH2657.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ56NW15/1961 (Index). SCH2487.