Epping Forest: Part 2

For our second little wander in Epping Forest I took an early morning stroll up to this iconic building on the edge of Chingford Plain. It commands a marvellous view over the forest from its relatively high vantage point and it attracts a fair number of visitors at weekends, particularly during the warmer months.

There’s a very attractive tea rooms next door in the old Butlers Retreat and I’m fond of a contemplative cappuccino at this spot on Sunday mornings whatever the weather. Of course I will have to defer this treat until life returns to normality. On the other side of the lodge is a huge mock Tudor pub, The Royal Forest Hotel, which was built in 1879 to cater for the thousands of eastenders who regularly spent their day of rest in the forest.

It’s a rather soulless Brewers Fayre chain pub these days but you do get to enjoy a great view as you eat your chicken and chips. Although this building is known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge there is no actual evidence of the Virgin Queen actually visiting it - she ‘may’ have done when she hunted in the forest. It was commissioned in 1542 by King Henry V111and completed the following year.

Constructed from massive oak timbers, this three-storey building with its integral stair tower demonstrates the skills and ingenuity of the royal carpenters who built it. During the seventeenth century the building was occupied by a keeper and the timber frame was covered with plaster and small windows were inserted on each level. It was around this time that it became known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. Towards the end of the seventeenth century the Watkins family moved in and they framed nearby for several generations.

The City of London Corporation acquired the building with the passing of The Epping Forest Act in 1878 and has been open to the public since that era. These days it’s a fun place to spend a couple of hours if you want a glimpse into Tudor history. You can wander around the various floors examining artefacts from the era and enjoying the glorious views.

There’s even a dressing up area for the kids. And it’s all free! The Epping Forest Visitors Centre sits adjacent to the Lodge and this is a great resource for the natural history of the area. And once you have finished ‘improving’ your knowledge you can slip into Butlers Retreat for a cream tea. Or if the kids are driving you mad, pop in to the Royal Forest Hotel for a gallon of ale.