8 ESSEX FIELD CLUB YEARBOOK, 1908.
suggestive " Inaugural Address " of our first President, Prof. R.
Meldola, F.R.S. His remarks* are as true and helpful now as they
were when uttered nearly thirty years ago.
Prof. Meldola's suggestions were accepted and acted upon by
several of the more energetic members; and, even during the Club's
first year, the nucleus of a collection was got together and lodged
in two rooms, lent for the purpose, at Buckhurst Hill.
Many years passed, however, before the idea of a well-organized
County Museum of Natural History, on modern lines, was realized
to the full. In the meantime, the more modest idea of getting
together a Museum to illustrate the extensive district known as Epping
Forest (so happily preserved to the use of the public through the
action of the Corporation of London) had suggested itself. In time,
this minor project was partly realized, and now, as stated below, the
larger scheme also is well in being.
The Club has been instrumental, therefore, in organizing in the
County two Free Public Local Museums, which it maintains in con-
junction, and by arrangement, with the Corporation of the City of
London and the Corporation of the Borough of West Ham, respec-
tively. They are as follows :—
(i) The Epping Forest Museum.—On the 8th December 1883, a
scheme, drawn up by Mr. William Cole, was laid before a meeting
specially called at Mr. E. N. Buxton's house, the proposal being to
utilize the picturesque Tudor building known as " Queen Elizabeth's
Lodge," at Chingford, for a free Public Museum of objects illustra-
tive of the history, geology, and natural history of the Forest District. †
Owing, however, to certain difficulties put forward by the then-
City Solicitor, it was not until ten years later that detailed and definite
plans could be promulgated publicly.
In the summer of 1893, Mr. Cole drew up an illustrated pamphlet
entitled An Epping Forest Free Local Museum: A Proposal, and
this was widely circulated. A Committee of the Council, called the
" Epping Forest Museum Committee," was formed under the
chairmanship of the Rev. A. F. Russell, Rector of Chingford, and
very considerable interest was manifested in the proposal. Ultimately,
on the 24th February 1894, a meeting for the furtherance of the scheme
was held in the Banqueting Room of the Lodge. Mr. Russell was in
the Chair, and he was supported by many firm friends of the Club,
including Prof. Meldola, Mr. Harting, Prof. Boulger, Prof. Charles
Stewart, Mr. Howard Saunders, and numerous others; while Prof.
Flower and Mr. McKenzie, Superintendent of the Forest, wrote warmly
supporting the scheme. Resolutions in favour of it were passed and
a Subscription Fund opened. ‡
Shortly afterwards, the requisite permission of the Epping Forest
Committee of the Corporation of London to establish the Museum
was obtained and an Agreement between the Town Clerk and the
Hon. Secretary, on behalf of the Club, was entered into. Under this
agreement, the fine Banqueting Room of the Lodge and the grand
staircase were allotted for the purpose of the proposed Museum.
After the necessary preliminary work had been got through, the
Museum was opened on the 2nd November 1895 by the late Mr. Deputy
R. C. Halse, Chairman of the Epping Forest Committee of the
Corporation, in the presence of a large assembly of members and
* See Transactions, vol. i, pp. 12-13.
† For a report, see Proceedings, iv, pp. lxvi-lxvii.
‡ For a report of the meeting, see Essex Naturalist, viii, pp. 44-48.