These premises, according to the advertisement had recently been
enlarged and it is these which were taken over by the joint societies in
1894 at the time they amalgamated. This retreat was open from
Mondays to Fridays only and was solely for the use of the Society. At
the time they occupied the premises some concern and dismay was
caused to certain local residents who had forebodings about the effect
of such an institution in their neighbourhood. The local Council tried
to get the retreat moved elsewhere alleging they had a petition signed
by many local residents, however, the retreat remained.
Princes Retreat, Lord's Bushes By courtesy Epping rdc
When parties were brought to the retreat the children were
assembled at a suitable railway station on one of the lines from either
Fenchurch Street or Liverpool Street stations to Loughton. A special
train was provided which the children, accompanied by an adequate
number of adults, then boarded and each compartment was locked.
The train ran through to Loughton where the children alighted,
the coaches were shunted to a siding which then existed between
Loughton and Chigwell Lane (now Debden) stations and the engine
returned to Stratford depot. From Loughton station the party walked
by way of Forest Road to the retreat in Staples Road. The building
has been described as a huge place of corrugated iron which could
accommodate many hundreds of children for meals. At the entrance
were seats and a refreshment kiosk and nearby were coco-nut shies
and donkey rides. After the children had been supplied with a meal
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