Minor Exploitation
The attachment roll refers to other, relatively minor, exploitation of the Forest's natural resources,
among them the cutting of turf and the removal of vegetation of one sort or another. In 1802 one Mr.
Dailey was presented before the court for digging about an acre of turf by the side of the road leading
from Honey Lane to Waltham Abbey (CA III p.57). Earlier in 1747 a Mr. Whitaker was presented for
cutting turf in Monk Wood and in 1779 William Gilbert of Walthamstow and Robert James of Leyton
were both found cutting turves and carrying loam off the Forest without authority to do so (CA II
p. 114). Gibson (1862) refers to a record of Whortleberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) being found in
Epping Forest '... whence Mr. Rivers' old foreman Smith, used to bring it on peat turfs'.
There are many references to the illicit removal of vegetation from the Forest. At least a dozen
entries between 1720 and 1811 are recorded in the attachment roll. Sometimes the reference is merely
to bushes. In 1794 the lord of the manor of Chingford, John Snell, was presented for cutting and
carrying away bushes from the Forest lying within that manor for use as fencing material (CA III p. 8).
In other instances the specific nature of the vegetation is mentioned. In 1720 John Scott was found
illicitly cutting heath (i.e. heather). In 1754 Henry Rapson of Ilford was presented for cutting ten loads
of Broom on the Forest from Wanstead Flats (CA II p. 39) and in 1785 three individuals were found
cutting fern (Bracken) in New Lodge walk (CA II p. 118). Mention is not made of the ultimate use of
these materials. The fern would probably have been used as animal bedding, the Broom perhaps
bundled together and made into domestic brooms. Fern is also mentioned being cut in quantity on a
fuel assignment belonging to Mr. Peter Mills of Sewardstone (EFA II p.3(32)). Here it is specifically
mentioned that the fronds cut in October were used as animal litter and for covering mangolds.
Blackthorn and Whitethorn (i.e. Hawthorn) were also cut on assignments for fencing material (EFA
II p.74 (1453)). Other mention is made of trees and shrubs illicitly cut in the Forest. The records
specifically include Crab Apple and Holly. In 1756 a Mr. Herrington of Epping was brought before
the court for cutting and carrying away Hollies and Crab trees on the 14 May (CA II p. 52). Obviously
the Holly was not intended for use as a Christmas decoration as is much of the Holly illicitly removed
from the Forest today. In 1779 (CA II p. 114) it is recorded that William Burrell the keeper of New
Lodge Walk ' ... presents that many persons take and carry away off the Forest the Acorns to the
Damage of Deer feeding on the said Forest'.
Reference
Gibson, Q. S. (1862) The Flora of Essex, p. 200.
The Boundaries of the Forest
It is not known precisely when Epping Forest (as part of Waltham Forest) came into being. Oliver
Rackham demonstrates the Forest, in its legal sense, came into being early in the 12th century, the
first records of a legal Forest of Essex dating from the 1130s. One of the basic requirements would
have been to declare the boundaries of the Forest, in order that the jurisdiction of the Forest law could
be defined. The legal boundaries were declared and defined by perambulation. The original
jurisdiction covered virtually the whole of Essex. After the declaration of the Charta de Foresta in
1215, by which Henry III agreed to reduce the area of land afforested, further perambulations were
ordered to be made before 1224-5. However a writ directed to the King's Justices of Essex, Surrey
and Sussex dated 9th May, 1225 ordered a perambulation to be undertaken by twelve knights of each
of the counties, aided by the Forest officials, to re-establish the former boundaries of the Forest. In
1227 Henry III quashed the Charta de Foresta declaring that, as having been under ward, he had had
no power to grant it. Later, on the demand of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the Charta de Foresta was
restored, only to be revoked yet again by Henry III on the grounds that Knights who had made the c.
1225 perambulations had been led into error and had incorrectly disafforested some lands (Fisher,
1887).
A perambulation in 1301 finally settled the boundaries to the south-west Forests Waltham (i.e.
Epping, Hainault and Wintry), Hatfield, Writtle and Colchester (Fisher, 1887). The 1301
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