CRANBORNE-CHASE, an ancient forest in Dorset, Hants, and Wilts. It was connected with the New Forest; extended to the vicinity of Salisbury, Wilton, Tisbury, Kingsettle, Blandford, Wimborne, Ringwood, and Fordingbridge; and was traversed by the British Ridge way. It belonged, in the time of King John, and from that of Edward IV. to that of James I., to the Crown; was given, by James I., to the Earl of Pembroke; and passed through several noble families to Lord Rivers. It lay, for many ages, unenclosed; but was ultimately divided into eight distinct walks; and, so late as 1828, it contained 12, 000 deer, and six lodges, under the management of a ranger. It still forms an extensive wooded tract, chiefly on the Wilts hills; and it presents many a piece of pleasant scenery.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))