117
The Eastern Boundary of
Waltham Forest
By E A. RUDGE
Read 26th October, 1957
Sixty-five years ago, when the Essex Field Club wis in its infancy, certain
members undertook to record the flora and fauna of Epping Forest. They
found a difficulty in recognising the precise limits of this area, and proposed
to accept that part of the forest which had come under public ownership.
Mr. William Cole then suggested the adoption of the boundaries defined in
the Perambulation Report of 1641, publishing a copy of this document in the
Essex Naturalist Vol. 6 (1892). In it the forest area is defined as that
bounded on the west by the River Lea, by Romford Road on the south, and
by a series of mere-stones linked with the Bourne Brook on the east.
Three years later, Professor Meldola again drew attention to this interest-
ing survey, in a paper entitled "The Eastern Boundary Stones of the Forest
of Waltham" (E.N. Vol. 9. 1895). He recorded that the Curate of Navestock
had noticed a shaped limestone block on a corner of Curtis Mill Green, near
the Roding river, which had no relation to any parish boundary. Meldola
considered that it might be the Richards Stone, mentioned by name in the
Perambulation Report. Taking this Report as a guide, club members conducted
a search and eventually found all the mere-stones mentioned therein, with
another—the Forest Bounds Stone—which for some unknown reason had been
omitted. Of the 8 stones some were broken, others overturned into ditches,
and one removed to a nearby farm.
The Essex Field Club then began a vigorous campaign to persuade the
Essex County Authority to take measures for the preservation of these
historically interesting relics. It was not until 1909, however, that the E.N.
was able to report (Vol. 16, p. 111) that the County Council had voted a
sum of £100 to re-erect these landmarks on concrete bases, each with an
iron plaque recording its name and significance.
This year I was curious to learn how these stones had fared after nearly
fifty years of urban development. Some were in the newly-built-up areas of
Chadwell Heath and Colliers' Row, and their survival might well be a matter
of doubt. I am happy to record, however, that all have been located. Two
are damaged to some extent, but the rest are intact.
Since I can find no mention of their precise location, I give the map
references, starting with the southern member of the group:—
1. The Havering Stone 490878—north side of Romford Road, Chadwell
Heath.
2. Forest Bounds Stone 485887—east verge of Whalebone Lane South.
3. The Marks Stone 485894—behind hedge, east side of Whalebone
Lane North.
4. The Warren Stone 4S7894—due east of 3 across a field. Damaged,
plaque missing.
5. Colliers' Row Stone 489911—south verge of Hog Hill Road, broken
from base.