Chingford to Epping

A feature of this roughly 12½ mile walk is that it goes in and out of Epping Forest and explores places outside and to the north west of the Forest. We start in Chingford, where we can take a look at Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge. Then we head for a section of the London Loop from where we can look to the South to take in the City of London with its skyscrapers, and to the West, to take in part of the Lea Valley. After that comes Gilwell Park of Scouting fame and then we reach the golf course at Lippit's Hill to enjoy some more views towards the northern reaches of the Capital.

On our walk we pass the "Temple", of 1737 vintage, situated on
the suitably named Temple Hill in Warlies Park (Upshire).

Eventually we reach High Beach with its Victorian (1873) church ("The Church of the Holy Innocents"). The village of Upshire is next on our itinerary, before we get to Copped Hall. Here the appropriately named "Copped Hall Trust" is working hard to restore the Hall to something of its former glory. Then comes some more rolling countryside before we complete our walk at Epping.

This 12½ mile walk has a maximum elevation of 120 metres (394 feet) and an associated total ascent of 309 metres (1014 feet) and so should be amenable to most individuals of reasonable physical ability. An additional attractive aspect of this walk is that it starts and ends in the TfL Fare Zone 6 and so should simplify ticketing. Getting to Chingford from London Liverpool Street Station is usually quick; Central Line trains from Epping take about half an hour to whisk you back to the Capital.

Most of the pictures you see here I took on 18 March 2009. However, I have added some more pictures, mainly more recent, to complete this presentation. So that you know which pictures were not taken on 18 March 2009, I have used the letters (in curly brackets), as given in the supporting notes, at the end of the captions of the relevant pictures on this web page.

Chingford

Chingford (Link), while still in London, is one of the gateways to Epping Forest, most of which is in Essex. The Epping Forest Act 1878 transferred the Crown's rights over Epping Forest to the City of London Corporation who were named as the "official conservators"; this enabled and ensured public use of the open spaces of Epping Forest. Before we enter the forest, we might get a chance to view - outside and inside - Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge

This is a view of Chingford Station looking back towards London. A closer look the other way suggests that the railway line was meant to be extended. Yes, the idea was to reach High Beach - the village within Epping Forest. New buildings - including the "King's Oak" pub - appeared here in anticipation of this. Indeed, some earthworks for the railway embankments can still be seen in the Forest. The extension was not to be. The Epping Forest Act 1878 put a stop to that! {D}




Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge
was originally completed in 1543 for Henry VIII.
About 25 years ago, the brown appearance of the timbers was changed to a timber preserving white mix which is supposed to be closer to the original appearance, but doesn't really look so nice!




From the lodge one has a north-facing view into Epping Forest.
Perhaps similar to that enjoyed by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in Tudor times.




In 1878, the City of London Corporation became the "official conservators" of Epping Forest; this established the right of the Public to use the open spaces of Epping Forest.
The Coat of Arms of the City of London is displayed with appropriate information panels at various locations in the Forest. On the display panels it makes sense to use plastic crests, but they still look quite attractive. The red cross is the crest of Saint George and the sword is connected with the defeat of Wat Tyler. The Latin inscription translates as "O Lord guide us". {F}

Views over London & Beyond

We now walk westwards, leaving the Forest to join part of the London Loop. Here we can look to the South to take in the City of London with its skyscrapers, and to the West, to take in part of the Lea Valley. Northwards we go past the gates of Gilwell Park of Scouting fame. Then we reach the golf course at Lippit's Hill to enjoy some more views towards the northern reaches of the Capital. Our path skirts around the base of the National Police Air Service where we can hear the frequent comings and goings of the police helicopters.

From the London Loop we can look south towards the City of London with its skyscrapers. {C}




To the west we can see part of the Lea Valley.




This rather modest looking monument commemorates
the role played by the American airmen during WWII.
Behind is the Lippit's Hill Golf Course.
Behind the photographer, and screened by hedge and fencing,
is the base of the National Police Air Service.




From the sloping golf course one gets ...




... views to the north west to Waltham Abbey.

High Beach

High Beach (link) is a village inside Epping Forest. The planned expansion of the village, in anticipation of the extension of the railway from Chingford, never fully materialised because the railway was literally "cut short in its tracks" at Chingford. The Epping Forest Act 1878 put a stop to the railway extension and thus to the expansion at High Beach. The public ultimately benefitted and still benefits to this day!

The centre of High Beach is essentially the King's Oak Hotel and Pub. On summer weekends High Beach assumes the atmosphere of a beach at a seaside resort, with the snack stands to match. Away from the hustle and bustle we find, as we come into High Beach from the south, the church of "The Holy Innocents", built in 1873. As we leave High Beach to the north, we pass a view point where we can look across towards Waltham Abbey.

The church of "The Holy Innocents" was built in 1873.




The interior is in traditional style.




Marble memorial in traditional style to one Harold Baring M.B.E. (1869-1927)
and his American-born wife (1872-1940) from New York City.




As we leave High Beach to the north,
we pass a view point where we can look across towards Waltham Abbey.




The same view nine years later. {F}

Upshire

The Three Forests Way takes us from High Beach across the roaring M25 to the village of Upshire. Before we reach Upshire we can catch a glimpse of Copped Hall which we shall see close-up later on our walk. Weather boarded houses welcome us as we enter the village. Beyond the "Horseshoe Pub" is the church of St Thomas which is Grade II* listed and built in 1902. Our route takes into Warlies Park up Temple Hill to the actual "Temple" or "Classical Rotunda" built in 1737. From here we can look down to Warlies Park House, built, perhaps surprisingly for such a mansion, in a dip in the landscape.

Before we enter Upshire we catch a glimpse of Copped Hall to the East.




Weather boarded houses welcome us in Upshire.




Another view of the weather boarded houses.




Church of St Thomas.




Warlies Park House




Temple




Close view of Warlies.
We could deviate from our main route to walk around the house. {E}

Copped Hall

A slight deviation from our main route brings us to the East Front of Copped Hall. The "new" Copped Hall was built between 1751 and 1758 to replace an earlier nearby building. The Hall was burnt out in 1917, apparently due to an electrical fault, although another version of the story is that some servants went on the roof to witness the downing of a doodlebug a few miles distant, and the roof was set on fire by a lighted taper. The appropriately named "Copped Hall Trust" is working hard to restore the Hall to something of its former glory.

Copped Hall: East Front. {A}




Copped Hall: East Front taken nine years later. {F}




Copped Hall: East Front. {A}




Copped Hall: East and North Fronts. {A}




View from the front Copped Hall towards the East and the M25. {A}




Copped Hall: West Front and Garden Folly on the left, half hidden by trees.




Copped Hall: South Front.




The Copped Hall Trust is working hard to restore the Hall
to something of its former glory. {F}

Epping

We shall soon reach Epping, the end of our walk and the end of the Central Line. The heritage line, the Epping-Ongar Railway, also starts here. Because of the highway men who at one time used to lie in wait in Epping Forest for travellers, it was deemed advisable for those travelling to London, to stay overnight in Epping before proceeding further during the day. Hence there were at one time 26 coaching inns in Epping High Street. However, only two survive today as public houses.

As we leave for Epping, Copped Hall seems to follow us. {F}




We traverse the rolling south Essex landscape before we reach Epping. {F}




Here is another view with some of us on the walk from Epping to Waltham Cross. {F}




Epping Station is our point of departure for London. {F}




The Epping-Ongar Railway has taken over the original north eastern end
of the Central Line and starts here, although it will be some time before
heritage line services will actually reach Epping. {F}

Thank You

Thank you to those who have in the past accompanied me on this walk, not only to enjoy each other's company, but also to enjoy the pleasant undulating countryside that characterises this part of South Essex. Thank you also to the Weather Gods, who were usually quite well behaved whenever I did this walk!