QUEEN ELIZABETH'S
HUNTING LODGE
CHINGFORD
Foreword
Epping Forest is part of our national heritage and the debt
which we owe to those who secured and have protected it for our
benefit is inestimable. The beauty of the forest and its historic
associations are well known and much has been written on these
themes. But no very satisfactory or readily accessible information
is generally available about the Hunting Lodge at Chingford which
is one of the treasures of the forest. This fine old building is
probably unique for such survivals are rare and I do not think that
a lodge of this style or of such an early date will be found
elsewhere.
Many residents and visitors to Chingford will have asked
the obvious questions which arise in an enquiring mind. Why
was it built? What was it used for? When was it built? This
small booklet aims to answer these questions in the hope that it
will satisfy both the interest of the student of local history and
the curiosity of a wider public.
I gladly acknowledge the co-operation I have received from
members of the staff of the Essex Record Office, the Public
Record Office and the Guildhall and Chingford Libraries. My
thanks are due also to Mr. William Addison, F.S.A. (Verderer)
and Mr. Raymond Powell, F.S.A. (Victoria County History) who
were both kind enough to read and comment on the text. I have
enjoyed too the benefit of advice and comment from colleagues
in the Society. But the responsibility for any errors of fact or
judgment in the text is of course mine. The Essex Record Office
and the Essex Field Club kindly made available the illustrations.
Above all the Society is grateful to the Epping Forest Com-
mittee of the Corporation of London for their interest and
generosity in co-operating with the Society in the publication of
this booklet
K. J. NEALE,
Chairman.