Cultural Learning Resources

OUR ENVIRONMENT

E P P I N G FACT SHEETS F O R E S T

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0303 0404 0808 0909 OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: CONTENTSCONTENTS EPPING FOREST MAP EPPING FOREST MAP A BRIEF HISTORY OF EPPING FOREST OF EPPING FOREST A BRIEF HISTORY A BRIEF HISTORY AND EPPING FOREST WILLIAM MORRIS AND EPPING FOREST PLAIN CHINGFORD PLAIN Epping Forest is a 5,900-acre area of of area area a 5,900-acre a 5,900-acre is is Epping Forest Epping Forest Epping in Epping in between between woodland woodland ancient ancient to to Gate Gate north,north, the the and Forest and Forest to to Essex public open public open largest largest the the It is It is south. south. the the a former a former is is It It area. area. London in the in the space space the the by by managed managed and is and is forest, forest, royal royal Corporation. Corporation. London London CityCity of of E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

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Copped Hall Park Warlies Waltham Park Abbey Epping

Gi ord Wood The Warren Plantation Epping Thicks

Ambresbury Banks

Jacks Big View Hill Theydon Bois

Deer FACT SHEETS Sanctuary Theydon Wake Green Valley Furze Pond Ground Debden Green Epping Forest Visitor Centre Little Monk Wood Baldwins Hill High Truelove’s Beach Camp

Robin Hood Roundabout Femhills Staples Hill Loughton Bury The Debden Wood Stubbles

Yardley Sewardstonebury Hill The Warren Loughton

Connaught Warren Water Hill Chingford Golf Course Pole Queen Elizabeth Hill Hunting Lodge North Farm Chingford

Whitehall Plain Chingford

Lord’s Bushes

Knighton Wood Chigwell Roding Valley

Woodford Green

Highams Park Woodford E P P I N G F O R E S T

A Brief History of Epping Forest Early History There has been continuous tree cover in Epping Forest for well over 3,000 years, and signs of human occupation since the Iron Age. Animals such as deer, wild boar, bear and beaver would have once roamed the Forest.

The Middle Ages: A FACT SHEETS William I (or the Conqueror, 1066-87) and his successors were the first to designate reserves of land for royal hunts. These were usually wilder, less 16th Century populated areas: heath, grassland and wetland as Henry VIII and Queen may have hunted well as woodland – declared to be ‘outside’ (Latin in the Forest, though no documentary evidence foris) of the common law of the land. Instead, these has survived to prove it. Henry VIII created a deer areas came under Forest Law*. park at Fairmead, which included Chingford Plain. In 1543, he paid for a grandstand to watch the hunt Forest Law safeguarded the King’s right to hunt game there. It was known as the Great Standing because in largely privately owned land, a right known as ‘vert it was three storeys high. It is still there today and and venison’. Forest Law was a legal system separate now known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. from the Common Law of . As part of the Royal , Epping Forest was one of sixty forests across England where the Crown had this right to hunt. The role of the , who still help to look after the Forest today, dates to this period.

In 1217, the 10-year old King Henry III authorised The , which re-established rights of access for free men that had been eroded by William Left: Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge the Conqueror and his heirs. As hunting and foraging Right: Henry VIII hunting on Chingford Plain, in the forests were important sources of food and engraving from a 19th Century book wood, the new Charter did more for the common folk of England than the much more famous Magna Carta, signed by Henry’s father, King John. The latter focused more on legal protections for the Barons. *These words are explained in the glossary on page 10.

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Picnicking in Epping Forest, 1860-70 1860-70 in Epping Forest, in Epping Forest, Picnicking Picnicking 1860s-70s:1860s-70s: Epping Forest Epping Forest save save to to The campaign The campaign Epping’s Epping’s of of sale sale and the and the Forest Forest Hainault Hainault of of The loss The loss different different of of coalition coalition broad broad a a created created Rights Rights Forestal Forestal The Forest’s The Forest’s Forest. Forest. the the save save to to who fought who fought interests interests Palmer, Palmer, George George Verderer officer, officer, judicial judicial remaining remaining years years 500 500 Forest’s Forest’s the the Government Government to to promoted promoted and recreational and recreational health health for for Londoners Londoners by by use use of of protest protest to to Londoners Londoners encouraged encouraged He also He also benefit. benefit. Both Both Mayor. Mayor. Lord Lord the the to to writing writing by by enclosures against against groups groups religious religious and nonconformist and nonconformist radicals radicals political political freedom freedom for for Forest Forest the the of of importance importance the the emphasised emphasised the the as as such such Social Social Reformers Reformers and worship. and worship. assembly assembly of of Society Society Preservation Preservation (in 1865) Commons (in 1865) Commons formed formed newly newly beauty beauty their their and and for for Epping Epping like like places places retain retain to to fought fought for for refuge refuge a public amenity a public amenityas as a necessary a necessary and as and as city. city. and polluted and polluted an expanding an expanding from from Londoners Londoners

OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FOREST movement’ movement’ movement’ ‘ ‘enclosure the the and 1870, and 1870, 1760 1760 Between Between countryside countryside English English of of million acres million acres seven seven saw saw profitable profitable more more land to land to common common shared shared from from change change their their lost lost commoners commoners land. Many land. Many enclosed enclosed private private on land on land and forage and forage graze graze to to rights rights traditional traditional release release the the Forests, Forests, In Royal In Royal landlords. landlords. by by owned owned landowners landowners spurred spurred Rights Rights Forestal Forestal Crown’s Crown’s the the of of commoners. commoners. their their and evict and evict Land Land Forest Forest enclose enclose to to saw saw growth growth continued continued London’s London’s Forest, Forest, Epping Epping At At land for land for release release to to opportunities opportunities money-making money-making improvement. improvement. agricultural agricultural than than rather rather development development Bills Bills Parliamentary Parliamentary of of a series a series 1817, 1817, From From of of disafforestation disafforestation the the for for pressed pressed unsuccessfully unsuccessfully Forestal Forestal of of sale sale the the following following In 1851, In 1851, Epping Forest. Epping Forest. Hainault Forest nearby nearby of of acres acres 3,000 3,000 Rights, Rights, Crown Crown the the In 1851, In 1851, weeks. weeks. six six within within felled felled were were rights, rights, Forestal Forestal Epping Forest’s Epping Forest’s including including Lands, Lands, Commissioners Commissioners Government Government to to transferred transferred were were Exchequer. Exchequer. the the for for revenue revenue increasing increasing with with charged charged half half sold sold Commissioners Commissioners the the later, later, Six years Six years Forest, Forest, at Epping at Epping Rights Rights Forestal Forestal Royal Royal the the of of 4,000 4,000 some some of of enclosure enclosure illegal illegal the the encouraging encouraging 1865. 1865. by by Epping Forest Epping Forest of of acres acres A decline in Forest Rights Rights in Forest in Forest A decline A decline Century: Century: 18th–19th 18th–19th enclosure enclosure of of The threat The threat 17th Century: Century:17th 17th participation participation in in royal royal saw saw interests interests Changing royal Changing royal dramatically dramatically Law Law Forest Forest of of power power and the and the hunting hunting in in monarchy monarchy the the of of Restoration Restoration the the Following Following decline. decline. thethe and and finances finances royal royal of of scrutiny scrutiny Parliamentary Parliamentary 1660, 1660, hunting hunting Forest Forest Royal Royal the the saw saw money money raise raise to to need need , , Rights Rights Forestal Forestal as as land, known land, known private private across across rights rights to landowners. to landowners. the monarch the monarch by by off off be sold be sold to to begin begin E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

FACT SHEETS 0606 In addition to lawsuits, there were also more more more also also were were there there lawsuits, lawsuits, to to In addition In addition enclosures enclosures the the against against demonstrations demonstrations practical practical Epping Epping the the MP of MP of Brady Brady Antonio Antonio In 1871, In 1871, place. place. taking taking made made Forest), Forest), the the protect protect up to up to Fund (set Fund (set Forest Forest on on to crowds to crowds fieryfiery addresses addresses in in resulting resulting Flats, Flats, Wanstead fences. fences. new new of of removal removal the the industrialist industrialist local local Similarly, Similarly, a leading a leading Burney, Burney, George George Epping Forest Epping Forest the the member of member of a a was was Society, Society, Preservation Preservation who who objector objector local local notable notable in 1874 in 1874 fences fences remove remove paid to paid to a subsequent a subsequent and defended and defended actions. actions. his his for for courtcourt case case and 1878, and 1878, 1874 1874 Between Between remaining remaining the the purchased purchased London London City Citythe the of of paying paying acres, acres, 5,531 5,531 land, some land, some unenclosed unenclosed enclosures enclosures of of loss loss for for manors manors the the to to compensation compensation some some of of loss loss necessary necessary the the for for commoners commoners and to and to remaining remaining their their relinquish relinquish to to agreed agreed The Crown The Crown rights. rights. Act Act Epping Forest Epping Forest the the in 1878 in 1878 and and rights rights Forestal Forestal the the as as London London City City the the of of establishing establishing passed, passed, was was the the that that said said The Act The Act Epping Forest. Epping Forest. of of Conservators Conservators Epping Forest Epping Forest keep keep all times all times “at “at shall shall London London CityCity of of for for space space an open an open unbuilt on as unbuilt on as and and unenclosed unenclosed . . people” people” the the of of and enjoyment and enjoyment recreation recreation the the The Crown agreed to relinquish their remaining their relinquish to agreed The Crown Act Epping Forest the and in 1878 rights Forestal as London City of the establishing passed, was Epping Forest” of Conservators the “ OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FOREST Thomas Willingale Willingale Willingale Thomas Thomas John T. Bedford, a member of the City of London London London City City the the of of a member of a member of Bedford, Bedford, T. T. John John the the City City the the that that was was recognised recognised Corporation, Corporation, Epping Epping save save to to resources resources sufficient sufficient only body with only body with involved involved become become City City the the to to persuaded persuaded and and Forest, Forest, Owning Owning Inquiry Inquiry in 1871. in 1871. of of a Commission a Commission through through meant meant in in Aldersbrook Cemetery Cemetery London London City Citythe the of of the the enabled enabled This This a commoner. a commoner. City City the the that that was was Commons Commons and the and the Nelson Nelson Sir Thomas Sir Thomas CityCity Solicitor, Solicitor, to to Hunter Hunter Robert Robert solicitor, solicitor, Society’s Society’s Preservation Preservation enclosures enclosures the the in stopping in stopping a breakthrough a breakthrough make make right of right of on the on the based based lawsuit, lawsuit, a single a single using using be be could could case case one one that that meant meant . This . This intercommonage intercommonage and on 10 and on 10 manors manors the the of of lords lords all the all the against against brought brought illegal. illegal. declared declared were were enclosures enclosures the the 1874 1874 November November Ordinary, working people also fought to save their their save save to to fought fought also also people people working working Ordinary, Ordinary, of of Willingale Willingale Thomas Thomas Labourer, Labourer, and livelihoods. and livelihoods. rights rights championing championing those those of of famous famous most most the the was was Loughton, Loughton, financial financial the the lopping. With lopping. With right of right of common common the the Buxton, Buxton, Sir Fowell Sir Fowell landowner, landowner, local local of of backing backing thethe Maitland, Maitland, JohnJohn against against a lawsuit a lawsuit filed filed Willingale Willingale over over enclosing enclosing for for Loughton, Loughton, of of Manor Manor the the of of Lord Lord development. development. for for sell sell to to Forest Forest of of 1,300 acres 1,300 acres E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

FACT SHEETS 0707 Connaught Connaught Connaught Waters Waters developers developers popularity, popularity, continued continued this this despite despite Yet Yet land, land, forest forest upon upon to encroach to encroach ways ways find find still still increasing increasing the the particularly of particularly of needs needs the the with with London London The City The City of of in London. in London. growth growth population population the the of of infringements infringements for for checking checking constantly constantly is is time time and and a costly a costly but it is but it is Act Act Epping Forest Epping Forest business. business. consuming consuming Epping Forest today today Epping Forest Epping Forest that that shows shows Survey Survey Visitor Visitor Epping Forest Epping Forest The 2014 The 2014 Epping Epping made to made to are are 4.2 million visits 4.2 million visits approximately approximately are are visits visits these these of of The majority The majority year. year. each each Forest Forest Flats, Flats, Leyton Park, Park, Wanstead , Flats, Wanstead Wanstead to: to: Water Water Connaught Connaught Plain, Barn Plain, Barn Hoppitt, Hoppitt, Chingford Chingford running running a local a local and .and High Beach. Harriers, Harriers, Orion Orion Forest. Forest. the the run through run through regularly regularly club, club, OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FOREST Invitation to the opening of Epping Forest by by by Epping Forest Epping Forest opening of opening of the the to to Invitation Invitation QueenQueen Victoria Victoria Archway built at Chingford Station to welcome welcome welcome to to Station Station built at Chingford built at Chingford Archway Archway Epping Forest Epping Forest to to QueenQueen Victoria Victoria visits the ‘People’s Forest’ Forest’ ‘People’s ‘People’s the the visits visits QueenQueen Victoria Victoria open the open the to to invited invited was was Queen Queen Victoria Victoria 1882, 1882, On 6 May, On 6 May, Mayor Mayor Lord Lord the the opening, opening, the the At At public. public. the the to to Forest Forest being dedicated being dedicated Forest Forest the the celebrated celebrated London London of of The Queen The Queen ever. ever. for for people people the the of of enjoyment enjoyment the the to to me the me the “it gives “it gives declaring declaring address, address, the the acknowledged acknowledged Forest Forest beautiful beautiful this this dedicate dedicate to to satisfaction satisfaction greatest greatest . . all time” all time” for for people people my my of of and enjoyment and enjoyment use use the the to to Epping Epping to to led led dedication dedication and the and the address address the the Both Both the the unique and popular accolade unique and popular accolade the the receiving receiving Forest Forest renamed renamed was was Hotel Hotel Forest Forest The nearby The nearby Forest”. Forest”. “People’s “People’s visit. visit. Queen Queen Victoria’s Victoria’s after after Forest Forest The Royal The Royal E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

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News from Nowhere Nowhere from from in News in News a paragraph a paragraph devoted devoted Morris Morris Epping Epping to to threats threats continual continual the the recounting recounting (1891) to (1891) to and in 1895, and in 1895, much much him so him so concerned concerned which which Forest Forest trees trees of of clearing clearing excessive excessive against against protest protest to to writing writing character character “The special “The special he recalled: he recalled: in Epping Forest, in Epping Forest, greater greater the the far far by by that that fact fact the the from from derived derived it was it was of of in many in many interspersed interspersed hornbeams, hornbeams, of of a wood a wood partpart was was a very a very was was result result and the and the thickets, thickets, holly holly with with places places be seen be seen can can as as such such wood, wood, and characteristic and characteristic curious curious else”. else”. nowhere nowhere writings writings Morris’s Morris’s through through a unifying a unifying as as Running Running thread thread is is a a environment environment natural natural a flourishing a flourishing that that idea idea the the is is nature. nature. in our very in our very humans and rooted humans and rooted for for need need vital vital and and campaigning campaigning through through he spread he spread a message a message It is It is still still we we today today that that Morris Morris like like people people to to thanks thanks it is it is on our doorstep. on our doorstep. resource resource amazing natural amazing natural this this have have William Morris aged 41 41 aged aged Morris Morris William William Hollyer Hollyer Frederick Frederick by by Photograph Photograph

OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FOREST William Morris and and and Morris Morris William William Epping Forest Epping Forest Epping Forest Epping Forest he knew he knew that that said said Morris Morris William William there. there. wanderings wanderings childhood childhood his his from from yard” yard” by by “yard “yard Commons Commons the the joined joined he may have he may have thought thought It is It is successful successful their their after after Society Society (CPS) (CPS) Preservation Preservation for for people, people, the the for for Epping Forest Epping Forest save save to to campaign campaign this this after after even even continued, continued, still still Forest Forest the the to to threats threats as as active active certainly certainly He was He was 1874. 1874. of of landmark victory landmark victory and 1886, and and 1886, and 1876 1876 member between member between a committee a committee in the in the accounts accounts troubled troubled CPS’s CPS’s out the out the sort sort to to helped helped thetheof of work work the the regarded regarded Morris Morris 1880-81. 1880-81. year year financial financial natural natural the the our country our country of of to to back back “giving “giving the the as as CPS CPS of of ashamed ashamed so so are are earth, earth, the the we we which which beautybeauty of of it”. it”. from from away away taken taken having having and and countryside countryside the the protect protect to to action action for for called called Morris Morris be claimed be claimed to to needed needed landscape landscape the the that that argued argued and developers: and developers: landowners landowners from from back back and and all; all; us us over over is is land grabber land grabber the the grip of grip of “the “the beauty beauty and and unmatched unmatched of of and heaths and heaths commons commons or jerry-built or jerry-built farmers farmers for for enclosed enclosed been been have have wildness wildness illgotten illgotten the the swell swell to to in order in order speculators speculators upon by upon by or greedy or greedy aristocrat aristocrat covetous covetous some some of of revenues revenues 1884) 1884) editorial, editorial, (Justice, (Justice, money-bag”. money-bag”. so so saving saving of of incapable incapable are are led led and the and the leaders leaders “the “the of of grasp grasp the the from from commons commons half a dozen half a dozen as as much much (Art (Art and Socialism, and Socialism, 1884) 1884) Commerce”. Commerce”. inexorable inexorable had: had: Britain Britain of of industrialisation industrialisation the the that that He felt He felt the hovels the hovels with with fields fields merry merry the the green green “covered “covered with with and trees and trees flowers flowers the the and blighted and blighted slaves, slaves, of of sewers; sewers; into into rivers rivers the the and turned and turned gases, gases, poisonous poisonous people people common common the the Britain Britain of of parts parts many many over over till till is like...” is like...” what a field or a flower what a field or a flower forgotten forgotten have have E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

FACT SHEETS 0909 poor and deprived children. Numbers increased increased increased Numbers Numbers children. children. poor and deprived poor and deprived ‘Bank ‘Bank Holidays’ Holidays’ of of introduction introduction the the after after more more even even 1871. 1871. of of Act Act Lubbock’s Lubbock’s Sir John Sir John following following in the in the appear appear to to began began and booths and booths BeerBeer tents tents provide provide to to appeared appeared ‘retreats’ ‘retreats’ In reaction, In reaction, Forest. Forest. first first 1860s. 1860s. the the At At from from refreshments refreshments non-alcoholic non-alcoholic cottage cottage in someone’s in someone’s rooms rooms were were retreats retreats these these house house pavilion to pavilion to build a wooden build a wooden Mr Riggs Mr Riggs but then but then followed, followed, More More visiting. visiting. who were who were numbers numbers large large the the and band music. and band music. helter-skelters helter-skelters roundabouts, roundabouts, with with century century barn barn a mid-nineteenth a mid-nineteenth Retreat, Retreat, Butler’s Butler’s these these of of last last the the in 1891, is in 1891, is a tearoom a tearoom to to converted converted today. today. refreshments refreshments serves serves and still and still retreats retreats A picnic in Epping Forest A picnic in Epping Forest OUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FORESTOUR ENVIRONMENT: EPPING FOREST Chingford Plain Plain Chingford Chingford Thousands of Londoners would come on a sunny on a sunny on a sunny come come would would Londoners Londoners of of Thousands Thousands and gypsy and gypsy rides rides donkey donkey games, games, for for weekend weekend , pubs, by by organised organised Outings Outings were were telling. telling. fortune fortune for for often often and workplaces, and workplaces, churches churches workhouses, workhouses, Chingford Plain Plain Chingford Chingford in in open space open space of of area area a large a large Plain is Plain is Chingford Chingford on on families families for for a holiday hotspot a holiday hotspot It was It was Epping Forest. Epping Forest. train train when the when the but it was but it was summer summer during the during the Sundays Sundays Chingford Chingford and then and then in 1856 in 1856 in Loughton in Loughton line arrived line arrived in 1878) in 1878) Forest Forest the the nearer nearer to to relocated relocated (it was (it was in 1873 in 1873 whole East whole East the the up to up to opened opened was was Epping Forest Epping Forest that that of of form form any any without without people people poorer poorer End, especially End, especially London London City City the the of of Thomson, Thomson, Paul Paul transport. transport. personal personal says says at Epping Forest, at Epping Forest, Superintendent Superintendent Corporation’s Corporation’s made, made, were were advances advances transport transport as as soon soon as as that that away: away: tourists tourists no keeping no keeping was was there there a a for for forest forest the the to to coming coming been been have have “Londoners “Londoners really really but it was but it was years, years, 500 500 than than more more holiday for holiday for people people Working Working era. era. Victorian Victorian in the in the noticeable noticeable and and a Sunday, a Sunday, week, week, each each only had one day off only had one day off air. air. fresh fresh the the for for Epping Forest Epping Forest to to come come would would they they holiday makers holiday makers for for Plain had a huge area Plain had a huge area Chingford Chingford and a chance and a chance space space open open the the was was attraction attraction and the and the smog.” smog.” the the End slums and End slums and East East the the from from away away get get to to E S T E S T F O RF O R N G N G P I P I E PE P

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Glossary • Forest Law: a law (as for the protection of game or preservation of timber) that is peculiarly applicable in a forest. • Forestal rights: the right for the king to hunt across private land. • Vert and venison: the King’s right to hunt game in largely privately owned land. • : common land is land owned collectively by a number of persons, or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to The figures for the number of holiday makers are graze upon it, to collect wood, or to cut turf for fuel. astonishing. In 1888, the Woodford Times said that • Commoner: a person who has a right in, or over, 90, 000 people visited the Forest on Bank Holiday common land jointly with another or others is called a Monday on the 25th May. On Easter Monday in 1897, commoner. e.g tenant farmers have the right to graze 51, 356 people visited the Forest. animals on common land owned by their landlord. • Verderer: officials in Britain who deal with common Today, people still visit Chingford Plain in large land in certain former royal hunting areas which numbers, enjoying picnics, riding on horses, walking are the property of the Crown. their dogs and visiting the circuses which still come • Disafforestation: English law to reduce land from the every year. status of a forest to the state of ordinary ground. • Intercommonage: the right to graze animals More information throughout the Forest. • Lopping: to cut off branches or twigs from a tree. If you required more information on Epping Forest, • Enclosure: the act of putting fences around land. please check out the following websites: www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green- spaces/epping-forest/heritage/Pages/history- of-Epping-Forest.aspx www.oss.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us/william- morris-open-spaces-champion/ www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-forest-charter- of-1225

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