Chase (land)

Chase is a term used in the United Kingdom to define a type of land reserved for hunting use by its owner.

The Victoria County History describes a chase as: "like a forest, uninclosed, and only defined by metes [houses and farmsteads within] and bounds [hills, highways, watercourses etc];[1] but it could be held by a subject.

"[2]Chases are often identified by open clearings, soil type, and retaining additional heath rather than forests for hunting purposes.

[3] After these conversions, in many areas the private lands were converted for residential, commercial, industrial or transport infrastructure use.

However, the chases listed (see examples) remain largely undiminished by staying a Common, or by a gift to a public body whether to avoid inheritance tax or motivated by philanthropy.