What is Hatfield Chase?
{{Infobox UK place |static_image=Idle Bank - geograph.org.uk - 910503.jpg |static_image_caption=<small>The South Idle Bank drain looking towards Tunnel Pits</small> | official_name= Hatfield Chase | country= England | map_type= South Yorkshire | label_position= left | region= Yorkshire and the Humber | os_grid_reference= | latitude= 53.528 | longitude= -0.893 | post_town= | postcode_area= | postcode_district= | dial_code= | shire_county= [[South Yorkshire]] |population= |hide_services= Yes }} '''Hatfield Chase''' is a low-lying area in [[South Yorkshire]] and North [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]]. It was often flooded. Hatfield chase was a royal hunting ground until [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] tried to have it drained. He hired a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[engineer]] to drain the water in 1626.<ref>''Biographical Dictionary of the History of Technology'', eds. Lance Day, Ian McNeil (London; New York: Routledge, 1996), p. 725</ref> The engineer's name was Cornelius Vermuyden. He also changed the courses of the rivers [[River Don, South Yorkshire|Don]], [[River Idle|Idle]] and [[River Torne|Torne]]. This included making drainage channels. But the project was not completely successful. More work was done in the 1760s to see to the problem of winter flooding. Modern pumps now work to drain the area. The history of Hatfield chase goes back to the end of [[Roman Britain]]. ==Location== On the west Hatfield Chase is bordered by the M18 motorway. The [[River Ouse, Yorkshire|River Ouse]] is its northern border. The [[River Idle]] is to the south, and the Isle of Axholme borders the area to the east.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Leisure_and_Culture/Outdoor_Life/Woods_and_Country_Parks/Discover_Hatfield_Water_Park.asp |title=Discover Hatfield Water Park |publisher=Doncaster Council |accessdate=2012-04-11 |archive-date=2012-08-