the provision of teas. The barn had earlier been used as a shelter for
school parties in adverse weather conditions. On 8 November, 1890,
Mrs. Watkins vacated the Hunting Lodge and John Butler, who earlier
had operated a kiosk on the forest, took a lease of the barn from
1 January, 1891. In the 1894 edition of Kellys Essex Directory, J. Butler
is described as "refreshment contractor and tea gardens, Epping
Forest overlooking Connaught Water and adjoining Queen Elizabeth's
old hunting lodge — seating room for 600 — Butlers Retreat".
This retreat remained in the hands of the one family throughout.
It was taken over by his wife, Mrs. Hannah Butler, at Christmas 1903.
On 30th January 1907, the building was damaged by fire but
was repaired. In the 1920's David Butler (her son) took over and finally
in 1956 David Butler's daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Owen of Theydon Bois
continued the business. The licence was given up in 1971 and the
lettering over the door which read "Butlers Retreat" removed. It is of
interest that in the London Post Office Directory for 1900 the location
was described at "High Beech Road, Chingford", instead of the more
usual Rangers Road.
The retreat mentioned earlier at High Beach, viz., the Roserville
Retreat, was first advertised in Lines "Popular Guide to Epping Forest"
published in 1883 as being operated by "W. Antill, Rosherville Tea
Gardens, High Beach, Epping Forest (opposite the King's Oak)
Good accommodation for bicycles, Picnics, Schools, Beanfeasts &c,
Accommodation for 500 wet or dry weather. An ordinary on Sundays
1s 6d each including Pastry". These premises were located in an
enclosure within the forest which had existed since the late 18th or
early 19th century. In the 1880's it was the property of Mr. St. Alphonse
and managed for him by Jabez McDiarmid and the house was rented
to the Conservators of Epping Forest and occupied by J. Chellis, a
Forest Keeper. When Chellis left the service of the Conservators in
1882 or 1883, it was taken over by W. Antill and used as a tea garden
as shown by the advertisement. In 1886, the entire enclosure was
conveyed to the East London Water Works Company who used the
greater portion for the construction of a covered reservoir. This work
was carried out for the Water Works Company in 1887 by John Aird
and Sons, the eminent contractors. Towards the end of 1886,
"Rosherville" the house which stands on the remainder of the enclosure
was tenanted by Robert Spires or Spiers who had previously had a
refreshment tent on the forest at High Beach and who continued the
business of the tea garden. Spiers name continues in the various Essex
Directories until 1889 when the entry appears as Spiers-Towzer,
corrected in 1902 to Spiers-Tozer in which name the tea garden was
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