9
QUEEN VICTORIA'S VISIT TO EPPING FOREST ON 6th MAY 1882
Queen Victoria's visit to High Beach in 1882 was the final
act in the long battle to save Epping Forest from enclosure
and destruction during the second half of the 19th century.
Local residents are familiar with the names of Thomas
Willingale and the Buxton brothers who played such an
important part in the fight, which was finally won when
the City of London Corporation took legal proceedings
against the various lords of the manor for enclosing their
Forest land. A decision was made in favour of the City
Corporation and in 1878 the Epping Forest Act was passed,
making them the conservators of Epping Forest with
responsibility for its management as an open space for
public recreation and enjoyment. The Act also abolished
ass the sovereign's rights, held since the 12th century,
and it was because of this that Queen Victora came to
ceremonially dedicate the Forest to her people.
Although rain had fallen during the night, Saturday 6th May
was fine and sunny and a crowd estimated at half a million
people flocked to Chingford Plain and High Beach to see the
royal procession. Special arrangements had been made for
the local school children who were gathered in an enclosure
beside the Epping New Road. Other visitors were permitted
to station their carriages on the Forest a little way back
from the roadside, allowing other spectators who had come
by train or on foot, to line the route in front. Special
booths were set up in the Forest to provide refreshments
for the vast crowd, which one contemporary account likened
to that at Epsom on Derby Day. Although an extra 1,500
police were on duty, nothing occurred to spoil the happy
day.
Queen Victoria, accompanied be Princess Beatrice, came by
train to Chingford Station which had been garlanded with
many thousands of flowers for the occasion. Here she was
joined by Princess Louise and the Duke and Duchess of
Connaught (The Duke, Victoria's 3rd and favourite son,
being the Ranger of Epping Forest) and was greeted by a
welcoming party led by the Lord Mayor of London.