Trial separation

After many weeks of being together 24/7 we decided today to do our own thing. I went off trying to buy presents to take home which despite my best efforts over the past couple of months, has been proving very hard to do.

Geoff went off walking for the day in Epping Forest. Geoff recounts the story.

Travel to Epping was so easy it is on the central line, trains leave Stratford station every 3 minutes and 20 minutes to Loughton station. From the station about 30 minutes walk through suburbs and I am walking in the Forest. My first stop is at the Forest field centre and purchase an OS explorer map ( 1: 25,000) so I can find my way arround - I am not confident using the phone based sat Nav.

First stop is Loughton Camp An ancient ( 500BC ) earthworks used to house and protect animals at times of threat or attack. It is one of the highest points arround so also served as a lookout. The earth banks enclose over 4 hectares of land.

After exploring some more tracks and walking through Monks Wood l came upon another ancient earthworks - Ambresbury banks the place is very atmospheric

Walking out of the ancient forest I briefly needed to navigate my way over a 21st century obstacle - the M25 then out into rural England and Cropped hall park. The estate dates to the 12 th century. In 1537 an abbot gave it to Henry VIII hoping to save the dissolution of Waltham Abbey . Henry still dissolved the abbey but never resided there, later it was used to inprison Queen Mary.

Through the years many of the movers and shakers of English history have resided and changed and rebuilt the structure that exists today. In 1902 there were at least 31 gardeners and 27 house servants . The first world war saw the loss of many of the servants ,with the death of the last wealthy owner in the 1950s the buildings were stripped of any thing of value leaving them derelict . In recent years with developers circling the corporation of London purchased the estate to add it to Epping forest.

As we have seen so often a walk of 5 minutes can move you hundreds of years in history . Here is part of the defensive line of London they are all over the place, reinforced strong points thankfully never needed to hold out against Hitler's invading army in the 1940s

View from the strong point

I continued my walk back into the 20th century into the post WW2 development of Epping to Epping station the start of the Central line. Waited 2 minutes for the train to leave, back in Stratford in half an hour.

A great days walk about 16 km and 3000 years of history.