Map 1. Distribution of deer parks in Essex, 1867-1976.
ndon Hall estate was owned by the Petre family until 1919 when it was broken
up and sold. The present Lord Petre informs me that he believes the deer in the
park, both fallow and red, were killed early in the First World War. Weald Park
was unusual among Essex deer parks in that four species of deer were kept there
in the 1890s (Whitaker, 1892). Fallow deer were present when the park fences
were finally broken towards the end of the Second World War, and animals
escaped into the surrounding countryside. By this time, roe deer were no longer
present in the park (Whitehead, 1964) but it is not known what happened to the
red and sika deer, or even if they were still present in 1945. Wivenhoe Park was
used as a camp during the Second World War. The army are reputed to have
driven the fallow out of the park and shot the last animal in 1944 (C. E. Owen,
personal communication).
In addition to these deer parks, fallow and red deer were kept at Stanway
Hall zoo near Colchester and Chinese water, fallow, muntjac, red and sika deer
were present at Mole Hall Wildlife Park, Widdington in 1973 (Chapman &
Chapman, 1973).
In the 1950s, the Corporation of the City of London which, as Con-
servators, is responsible for the management of Epping Forest, was concerned
about the possible demise of the Forest's black fallow deer. To ensure the
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