It is not known precisely when the pale was built. Forest management accounts of 1283 refer to the cost of repairing the pale and building new lengths. However, the granting of the "Free-chase of Ashdon" to John of Gaunt in 1372 and its renaming as Lancaster Great Park (see below) implies that the forest may only have been recently enclosed (chase denoted an open hunting ground, park an enclosed one).
it is not known precisely when the pale was built forest management accounts of 1283 refer to the cost of repairing the pale and building new lengths however the granting of the "free-chase of ashdon" to john of gaunt in 1372 and its renaming as lancaster great park (see below) implies that the forest may only have been recently enclosed (chase denoted an open hunting ground park an enclosed one)