24 EPPING FOREST
years ago by Sir Josiah Child, and are now, unfor-
tunately, in a very decaying condition. They are
but the remnant of a large number which radiated
in several directions from old Wanstead House,
and formed the approach to it. In the plan of
Wanstead, as it was in 1745, they are well shown,
extending as far as Snaresbrook pond.
Crossing the Avenues in an easterly direction
to the road from Wanstead to Forest Gate, the
entrance to the western arm of Wanstead Park
is reached. [The same point may be reached
by those driving or walking from Stratford by
turning to the right out of the High Road, either
along Cann Hall Lane or at Harrow Green, or
by Davis's Lane. From Snaresbrook the park is
reached by the new entrance road out of Red
Bridge Lane, near Wanstead Old Church.] (For
a history of the park, see p. 45.) Following the
footpath through the Reservoir wood, the Shoulder
of Mutton pond, the Heronry pond, and the Perch
pond are passed in succession on the right, and
the refreshment chalet on the left. Two hundred
yards beyond the latter the footpath enters the
beautiful woods which surround the Great Lake,
and conducts to the old boat-house and the so-
called grotto1 above it, of which more need not
be said than that it is a specimen of the style of
landscape-gardening in fashion in the eighteenth
century. The domed chamber is encrusted with
shells and a mixed collection of stalactites, crystals,
and looking-glasses. The best part of it is the view
from the window. A glance at an old map shows
that the river Roding formerly flowed through this
lake, which was then at a lower level. At a sub-
sequent date a course which now bounds the Park
on that side was cut for it, to enable the level
of the lake to be raised—an operation which had
the effect of widening the channels and partly
submerging the curious structure called the " For-
tification." Previous to this alteration the straight
cut canal-like branch of the lake, pointing east
and west, gave a watery termination to the broad
1 Burnt down, November 1884, but the facade remains.