What is stated to have been an interesting feature was the round
window in the dining room above the fireplace, the advantage of this
being that one could rest one's arms on the mantelshelf to look out at
the Fairmead Oak and at the same time see anybody approaching the
house along the main drive. Edward Bartholomew continued his
catering at the lodge until the 1890's assisted by his son Ernest.
Eventually when the Conservators took over the building together
with the enclosure the lodge was demolished and the grounds and
site included in the forest. About the time of the move Edward
Bartholomew died and was buried in the churchyard at High Beach.
His son, Ernest, continued the business at Forest Lodge near Pynest
Green Lane, assisted by his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Mansfield. In June, 1948, Ernest Bartholomew died and Mrs.
Mansfield continued to serve teas at Forest Lodge until forced to retire
through ill health and failing sight.
As stated above it was John Riggs who formed the idea of a
"Retreat" for the supply of non-alcoholic refreshments. His three
sons and one daughter each operated a separate retreat, and upon his
death the retreats were left individually to the respective operators. The
first retreat was at Chingford, where he first attempted to build on an
ancient enclosure near Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge known as
Barn Hoppit. In fact, he imported a considerable amount of timber
and other building materials on to this site. As the enclosure was for
purely agricultural purposes the use of the prescriptive access for
purposes other than agriculture caused the Conservators to obtain an
injunction against both Riggs and the Lord of the Manor of Chingford
Earls whose property it was. The project was then abandoned and the
first retreat built at Brook Road adjoining Whitehall Plain, (also termed
Birkbeck) which although actually in Woodford parish was termed the
"Chingford" Retreat. From a contemporary advertisement we learn
that this first retreat founded in 1879 was so successful that two more,
one at High Beach and another at Theydon Bois were opened in 1881
and 1882 respectively. These, too, were so successful that they were
followed by similar establishments at Southend-on-Sea, Clacton,
Dovercourt, Margate and other popular resorts. From contemporary
advertisements we know that John Riggs junior assisted by his wife,
Grace, continued to operate the Chingford Retreat, while his brother,
William, ran the High Beach Retreat and Thomas one at Theydon
Bois.
The Chingford Retreat was continued by John Riggs and his wife,
Grace until the early 1900's. It then appears to have been taken over
by Alfred B. Wood. In a notice in the Chingford and Epping edition
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