32
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S LODGE.
" If found necessary to construct bedrooms for the keeper and his family,
in lieu of those now in use, we shall probably be able to provide the cost
thereof out of casual sums received for privileges conferred on owners of
enclosed lands adjoining the Forest."
Appended to this document are two detailed reports by Mr.
Oldrid Scott, from which we make extracts of matters of interest
in connection with the structure and history of the Lodge, and
its use as a local Museum. It will be remembered that in 1895
Mr. James Cubitt, F.R.I.B.A., kindly made a careful examina-
tion of the Lodge on behalf of the Club, and wrote a Report
which was published in the Essex Naturalist for 1896 (vol. ix.,
pp. 166-7). By comparison of that report with those prepared
by Mr. Scott, it will be seen that the opinions of the two highly
skilled architects are practically identical. Mr. Cubitt subse-
quently made some suggestions as to the structural alterations, or
rather restorations, required to adapt the Lodge for the pur-
poses of a permanent Museum, with which Mr. Scott's later
opinion coincides, and which was embodied in the petition for
"more room" presented by the Club to the Epping Forest
Committee.
Mr. Scott's first report is dated February 20th, 1897 :—
" At the request of the Epping Forest Commissioners, conveyed to me
by Mr. E. N. Buxton, I visited the Lodge at Chingford a few days ago and
made an examination of the building. It consists of an oblong structure of
timber, measuring nearly 30ft. by 20ft, internally divided into three stories,
with a square staircase projecting from the main building, which is some 4ft.
square. The whole is most solidly built of massive timber, which appears to
be in exceptionally good condition ; the walls are quite upright and the floors
are level—a condition very rarely met with in ancient timber houses. The
Lodge appears from the character of its architectural details, to have
been built in Henry VII.'s reign, towards the end of the 15th century—its
being called Queen Elizabeth's Lodge probably arising from her having made
use of it. Its original arrangement was very peculiar, consisting as it did of
two large rooms, one occupying each of the upper floors, and some small
apartments below. It may have been a Hunting Lodge for the use of the
Sovereign, the top room being a fine parlour for rest and refreshment, the
room below for dressing, and the small chambers on the ground floor for
attendants. There is a dignified character about the building which seems to
me to distinguish it from the usual buildings of its age, and though it is so
small in size it was evidently intended for a special purpose. The great care
which was evidently bestowed on the selection of timber used in its construc-
tion points in the same direction.
The upper floor retains its old character ; it is a fine room rising into the
roof, divided into three bays by boldly arched roof trusses ; it has been
restored, and is in all respects in a satisfactory condition.