Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
'All such necessarie things'
ALDBOURNE CHASE, WILTSHIRE, 1608
This is the central part of a map of Aldbourne Chase which lies northeast of Salisbury Plain
among the chalklands of the Marlborough Downs, in White Horse country. The map was
drawn in a dispute about the royal rabbit warren which lay within the Chase. Words cleverly
concealed in banks of trees across the map state 'Southe Ood Walk' which refers to South-
wood Walk, one of three areas into which the warren was divided. Although this map was
made for a legal case, we know from the title that it aimed to show a wider picture, including
'the landes neare adioyninge' as well as the contested area. The instructions for making the
map required it to show 'all such necessarie things as you … shall thinke beste for the more
manifestacion of the truthe of the said matter'.
The lordship of the manor of Aldbourne was held by the Duchy of Lancaster. Its Council
ordered the map to be made as part of an investigation into a dispute centred on land man-
agement, boundaries, common land and access rights. The Duchy alleged intrusion on its
