IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Forest Road, LONDON, E17 4AH

Looking West from a bridge over Forest Road Walthamstow. To the right is Beacontree Avenue. On the horizon you can see the "Northern Heights" See Image for view to the East.

This is seen from the corner of Fernhill Court with Forest Road. The flats are in the 'Tudorbethan' style.

The Hydro General Stores, just off Forest Road, is now the Hydro Community Centre.

Footbridge for Walthamstow Forest, part of Epping Forest - City of London Corporation. Bridging the A503 (Forest Road). Steep ramp and step.

This is seen from the junction with Winsbeach.

Epping Forest was once a large expanse of broad-leaved woodland covering much of the eastern flank of the River Lea and stretching from the flood plains of the Lea into Essex. There were great threats to the Forest in the 19th century with proposed enclosures and sale of parts of the Forest. In August 1871 the City of London Corporation stepped in as a commoner with grazing rights and brought an action against the lords of the manor which lasted over three years. The manorial lords claimed that each manor was separate and that the commoners of that manor had no rights over the rest of the Forest. They said that if a manor satisfied its own commoners it could legally enclose that manor. The Corpoaration disputed this and claimed that commoners' rights extended throughout the whole Forest. Final judgement was given to the Corporation and following this the Corporation systematically bought all the remaining 'waste' land of the Forest and through the Epping Forest Act of 1878 became Conservators of Epping Forest. Epping Forest was formally opened on 6th May 1882 at High Beach when Queen Victoria dedicated "this beautiful Forest to the enjoyment of my people for ever." Waterworks Wood is the smallest fragment remaining of Walthamstow Forest and it was made smaller in the 1960s by the driving of the North Circular Road through the Forest just north of here despite many protests. At the same time a large covered reservoir was built here. This view is from the end of the footbridge over Forest Road.

Walthamstow Forest, part of Epping Forest - City of London Corporation. This bridleway/footway emerges from the forest into a raised clearing.