OBJECTS OF INTEREST. 57
Ongar, Halstead, and elsewhere were sold. The
remnant of the property the last earl left away from
his mother's family to his cousin on the father's
side, the late Earl Cowley. The great increase in
building value of property so near London is, under
good management, gradually restoring the estate.
After being shut up for a great number of years,
in 1880 the ornamental portions of the Park, com-
prising the woods, water, and heronry, were acquired
by the Corporation of London in exchange for
several pieces of Forest land, of great value for
building, but of little or no use to the public,
£8000 being paid in addition as a make-weight.
The whole has been added to the Forest, but the
grounds round the great lake are closed at night.
Unfortunately the direct and natural access to this
recreation ground from Snaresbrook Station by
Wanstead Church was not acquired. The visitor
from this direction must leave that on his right,
and follow the road towards the river Roding
until he finds the gate. A convenient exit has
been provided near Mornington Villas, opposite
what remains of Evelyn's Avenues, and accessible
from Forestgate Station across Wanstead flats, or
from Leytonstone by the Avenues, so that the tour
of the grounds can be made in either direction
without retracing steps.
AMBRESBURY BANKS AND LOUGHTON CAMPS.
These two ancient camps are in the heart of
the Forest, and owe their state of preservation
in some measure to that fact, and their consequent
immunity from the levelling action of agriculture.
Ambresbury Banks lies about a mile south of the town