High Beech

High Beech

a popular week-end picnicking spot and starting point of many walks through the forest. From 350 feet, one of the highest points of the forest, you have extensive views over the LeaValley towards Waltham Abbey. The commonly accepted explanation of the name 'HighBeach' is that it stands on a layer of pebbles and sand. Within the northern ring of the M25  a large chunk of woodland is centred on HighBeach. It occupies a ridge between the Lee and RodingValleys and is famous for its hornbeams, lopped for centuries by the commoners of surrounding parishes. There are as many beeches as hornbeams scattered evenly throughout the woodland cover. The hornbeams come close to dominance near the Loughton side of the forest. The weirdly shaped old trees are the product of centuries of hard work and use although the lack of any major cutting back in later times has created a dense shade where very little grows. 'Named' trees such as the King's oak near the Conservation Centre, the Fairmead oak and many others have largely gone or become sad relics but the forest still has a  special atmosphere.                        

Catacombs in the garden, tumble of masonry, built in the 1860s from the stones of Chelmsford gaol, rocks which look as if from another building, mound in the garden, circular part open to the sky, six pillars conceding the stone niches & structural glass, rough asymmetrical stones, almost round features, dark at the bottom. 

Most of Tennyson’s ‘In Memoriam’ written there, near the Meridian

Epping Forest and War

Charcoal burning exhibition

Royal Oak Hotel.This is a modem building erected in 1887, and its attractions now include a new swimming-pool.

Reservoir, near King’s Oak.  2,500,000 galls., 371’ above OD, 1880s Reservoir, service from Chingford Mill Chingford Water,

Verderer’s Ride

St Paul’s church

Dick Turpin’s cave