300
MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE RE-ORGANISA-
TION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE EPPING
FOREST MUSEUM.
Saturday, December 8th, 1900.
In previous papers and reports in the Essex Naturalist the position
and prospects of the Epping Forest Museum have been fully detailed. In
April, 1899, the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation of London
resolved to thoroughly restore the Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and by removing
the partitions dividing the first floor room, which for centuries, probably, had
marred its appearance, to give more space, "with the object of extending the
Museum," whilst internal and external repairs were carried out to strengthen
the structural condition of the building. The Lodge has also been fitted with
hot-water apparatus to keep it dry and warm, Towards the cost of this
restoration, the Corporation of London contributed £500, and the Essex Field
Club has paid £50, being the expense of converting the scullery into a small
room to be used for curatorial work. The total cost of these alterations
has slightly exceeded £1,000.
The two fine apartments, the "Oak Room" and the "Banqueting
Room," with the grand staircase and landings, are now available for exhibi-
tion purposes, and this accession of space has necessitated a reconsideration of
the whole plan of the Museum. It is the wish of the Epping Forest Com-
mittee that no large upright cases should be placed in the middle of the
rooms, and that no fittings should cross the main timbers of the walls.
The intention is to fit up the Museum with low floor-cases, and with
shallow flat cases for the walls, so constructed as to fit into the intervals
between the main timbers, and thus not obscure the structure of the building.
The experience the Club has had in work of this kind proves that at
least £300 will be required ; to be expended as follows :—cases, frames and
fittings, £150 ; preparation and purchase of specimens, glass-topped boxes,
tablets, labels, etc., etc., £100 ; and contribution of cost of Curator's room,
To raise this sum of £300 the Epping Forest Museum Committee held a
public meeting in the Lodge on the above named day, the chair being taken by
E. N. Buxton, Esq., Verderer (Vice-President of the Essex Field Club), and several
local gentlemen and others interested in the question attended.
The Chairman said he thought that they might congratulate the Essex
Field Club and the Secretary, Mr. W. Cole, on the possession for the purposes
of the Museum of a much more worthy building than before. The new, or
rather the restored, oak-room was an enormous improvement and addition to
the Lodge, and he was glad to think that by the new scheme it and the
Banqueting Room could be utilized for the Museum without detracting from
the antique appearance of the building, and in a manner to avoid over-
crowding. That was an object always to be aimed at. The charm of the
rooms would in his opinion be spoilt by over-crowding. It was quite clear
that they could not have everything that occurred in the district at the Lodge,