32 QUEEN ELIZABETH S LODGE. 



" If found necessary to construct belrooms for the keeper and his family, 

 in lieu of those now in use, we shall probably be able to provide the cost 

 thereof out of casual sums received for privileges conferred od owners of 

 enclosed lands adjoining the Forest." , 



Appended to this document are two detailed reports by Mr. 

 Oldrid Scott, from which we make extracts of matters of interest 

 in connection with the structure and history of the Lodge, and 

 its use as a local Museum. It will be remembered that in 1895 

 Mr. James Cubitt, F.R.I.B.A., kindly made a careful examina- 

 tion of the Lodge on behalf of the Club, and wrote a Report 

 whicli was published in the Essex Naturalist for 1896 (vol. ix., 

 pp. 166-7). ^'Y comparison of that report with those prepared 

 by Mr. Scott, it will be seen that the opinions of the two highly 

 skilled architects are practically identical. Mr. Cubitt subse- 

 quently made some suggestions as to the structural alterations, or 

 rather restorations, required to adapt the Lodge for the pur- 

 poses of a permanent Museum, with which Mr. Scott's later 

 opinion coincides, and which was euil)odied in the petition for 

 " more room "' presented by the Club to the Epping Forest 

 Committee. 



Mr. Scott's first report is dated February 20th, 1897 : — 



" At the request of the Epping Forest Commissioners, conveyed to me 

 by Mr. E. N. Buxton, I visited the Lodge at Chingford a few days ago and 

 made an examination of the building. It consists of an oblong structure of 

 timber, measuring nearly 30ft. by 20ft, internally divided into three stories, 

 with a square staircase projecting from the main building, which is some 4ft. 

 square. The whole is most solidly built of massive timber, which appears to 

 be in exceptionally good condition ; the walls are quite upright and the floors 

 are level — a condition very rarely met with in ancient timber houses. The 

 Lodge appears from the character of its architectural details, to have 

 been built in Henry VII. 's reign, towards the end of the 15th century — its 

 being called Queen Elizabeth's Lodge probably arising from her having made 

 use of it. Its original arrangement was very peculiar, consisting as it did of 

 two large rooms, one occupying each of the upper floors, and some small 

 apartments below. It may have been a Hunting Lodge for the use of the 

 Sovereign, the top room being a fine parlour for rest and refreshment, the 

 room below for dressing, and the small chambers on the ground floor for 

 attendants. There is a dignified character about the building which seems to 

 me to distinguish it from the usual buildings of its age, and though it is so 

 small in size it was evidently intended for a special purpose. The great care 

 which was evidently bestowed on the selection of timber used in its construc- 

 tion points in the same direction. 



The upper floor retains its old character ; it is a fine room rising into the 

 roof, divided into three bays by boldly arched roof trusses ; it has been 

 restored, and is in all respects in a satisfactory condition. 



