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EPPING FOREST
PPING Forest, preserved evermore for the people of London, is
the remnant of the woodlands which in early times covered the
county of Es:
The forest is not enclosed, so that in parts there is no well-defined
boundary between its irregular fringe and adjoining fields and uplands.
Grassy paths and tracks cross and recross each other in glade and
covert. Scattered through the forest are © old-world towns and villages.
Epping Forest lies in country tha n parts undulating, in others
broken and rugged, so that the forest i in nits ctiversity of s cenery, is con-
stantly disclosing some new beauties to the wayfar
always changing; here breaking into open park ‘land with larger
scattered trees; there opening up into glades of coarse grass or stretches
of bracken, or gorse, or heather.
By alighting from Motor-Buses 10a or 38a, one can proceed west
by way of the Ranger’s Road to Chingford, where stands the old hunting |
lodge which tradition associates with Queen Elizabeth, It is now the
museum of the Essex Field Club, and is open to the public.
e or so to the south-west i is cue ngford Mount w ith its ruined “
A mil
church. From the church, a pa ss downhill past Chingford Mill to
Cook's Ferry (no longer a ferry but : a bridge), \ whither resorted Izaak
Walton ons his friends who fished the Lee h
the most charming of forest rambles i is that from Chingford
to High Beach, by way of Connaught Water, the largest of the forest
pools, which lies to the 1 north-east of the Plain. On the left of the Water
a grassy track—the Green Ride—runs througl Fairmead Thicket to
Fairmead Bottom, whence the way lies forward di: through Hill Wood,
and so, left, along the by-road leading round to High B
Waltham Abbey is about three miles from High Beach, whence it
may be reached by crossing the forest north-west through Honey Lane
uarters to the “ Volunteer” Inn, and so down Honey Lane into
\ aan oly Cross town.
bbey Farmhouse and the remains of the old Abbey Gateway
still stead: in the meadows on the north, and spanning the moat stream
here is an ancient arch, known to this day as Harold’s Bridge. The
little town of Waltham Holy Cross is rich in picturesque by ways, and
a sight of the quaint gables of the Romeland should on no account be
missed. The Eleanor-Cross is about a mile to the west, on the main
highway to London.
o write at length of all the many features of interestin and around
Epping Forest lack of space forbids. The ancient British earthworks—
Ambresbury Banks and Loughton Camp—preserved in the woodland
depths near the ‘‘ Wake Arms” and the “ Robin Hood "5; Epping Town,
with its inn-lined High Street, and the old upland church lying in the
meadows on the west ; we Lower Forest beyond, with its picturesque
farmhouses ; Copped Hall Green ; Epping Thicks and Monk Wood, the
Wake Valley, Baldwin's Hill, and other beauty spots in the forest on
the north, must be seen and explored ere one can say truly that he
knows Epping Forest. On the south, too, particularly around Buckhurst
Hill and Woodford, are many charming spots, such as the oak wood
south of Chingford Plain, Warren Hill, and Lord's Bushes, the last a
favourite haunt of the fallow deer. The southern extremity at Whipp’s
Cross, where the woodland comes down right among the houses, should
also not be forgotten.
MEANS OF ACCESS BY MOTOR: BUS.
Route 10, Wanstead and Elephant and Castle. oute 10a, Loug
and Elephant and Castle. Route 10(Sundays onl), Woodford Bed de
and Elephant and Castle. Route 38a (Sundays only), Warren Wood
House and Victoria. Route 38 (Sundays only), Buckhurst Hill and
ictori
RICHMOND
HEY who desire to see something of the memorials of the Rich-
mond of other days should shape a course to the riverside from
the station by way of the Green, first turning aside from George
Street into Church Court to visit St. Mary Magdalene.
rewer’s Lane, on the other side of George Street, gives access to
the Green. Here a fragment of the old palace of Sheen still exists, a
. low building in brown brick, adjoining a gateway bearing the arms of
Henry VII. After Bosworth Field, Henry took up his abode at Sheen,
which he renamed Richmond.
At Old gen Palace, Edward III. passed away, wearied by a long
eign. of and conquest; and here his unfortunate grandson,
Richard IL, ‘lived with Anne of Bohemia, whose untimely death at Sheen
caused her royal husband to abandon his palace of bitter memory. A’
Richmond the star of Wolsey’s power shone for a brief period when
Henry VIII. permitted him to reside in state at the Palace, after the
Cardinal had presented Hampton t to us _apricious master.
Elizabeth died in the palace built by her grandfatl
Passing through the little courtyard of the Palace, and turning down
Old Palace Lane, on the wall of Asgill House is a tablet relating to the
old Palace. Westward are seen the graceful bridge with the wooded
~
heights of Richmond Hill. To the east is the Old Deer Park and Kew
Gardens, and in this direction, along the grassy towpath, lies one of the
most charming Thames-side walks. Half a mile or so down stream
is Isleworth, with its old church, its ferry, and its hostelry, the “London
Apprentic
Above ‘bridge where the towpath runs out into the Petersham Road
the Terrace Gardens lie on the slope of Richmond Hill. As one ascends,
the view over the Thames Valle radually unfolds, from the dark
headlands of Box Hill to the white towers of Windsor, with the Thames
in the foreground below. To the stranger regarding London as a vast
wilderness of houses comes a feeling of delighted surprise on beholding
this far-extending prospect on the city’s v
At the end of the Terrace stands the «Stag and Garter,” the festive
rendezvous of a past generation. The “Star and Garter" is now used
as a hospice for disabled soldiers. In the hollow below lies a remnant
of Petersham Com
exploration “of Richmond Park, into which ihe Terrace leads is
a pleasure in store for those who have not y acquaintance with
its bracken-clad vales and uplands and leafy plantations. ear the
Kingston and Ham Gate and about the Pen Ponds, the haunt of the
heron, are views unsurpassed in their way around London. Herds of
red and fallow deer roam the Park in all directions. Not far from the
Pen Ponds is the White Lodge, a fine mansion that has been tenanted
by many famous people. _ Near the Richmond Gate more fine views
over the Thames Valley are to be had from Petersham Terrac
Down below lies old Petersham Church, reached by a " passage
opposite Ris ston Lodge. In the churchyard Captain Vancouver, who
has been termed the Columbus of the North-west, sleeps in a neglected
grave.
A short distance from the church stands Ham House. The public
have right of way through to Ham Fields, a most charming ramble. By
taking boat at Twickenham Ferry, famous i in song, Twickenham Church
will be reached. Hence one may return to Richmond Bridge through
the fields of Marble Hill.
MEANS OF ACCESS FROM TOWN.
By Train from any Underground Railway Station.