268 



FURTHER ADDITIONS TO EPPING FOREST. 



In the present volume of the Essex Naturalist (ante pp. 

 78-83) we recorded the acquisition of a large portion of Yardley 

 Hill as a part of the public lands of the Forest. On reference to 

 the plan printed on page 81, or better still by an inspection of the 

 spot, it will be seen that the new lands so generously given by 

 Mr. Buxton are only indirectly connected with Bury Wood by 

 Davis's Lane and a somewhat narrow strip (printed black on the 

 plan) with the main portions of Yardley Hill. There is a piece 

 of land on the eastern side of this strip (through which a right- 

 of-way exists) which would clearly be a most desirable property 

 to acquire, as it would bring the north-western corner of Bury 

 Wood into direct communication with the new land, and in 

 itself, forming as it does the eastern slope of the laill, it would be 

 a picturesque addition to the forest. It is therefore with great 

 satisfaction that we record the accomplishment of this improve- 

 ment. 



In a special report of the Epping Forest Committee dated 

 i8th July, 1900, and since received and adopted by the Common 

 Council, a scheme for the acc^uisition of this portion of land is 

 thus announced : — 



"We have the honour to report that at the time Mr. Edward 



North Buxion presented the Yardley Hill Estate to the Corporation, as Con- 

 servators of the Forest, we were very much impressed with the fact that a 

 piece of land containing 13 acres, i rood, and r perch, situate between Hawk- 

 wood and Gillwell Lane, and adjoining the land which formed Mr. Buxton's 

 gift, would be a most valuable addition to the Forest, and we accordingly 

 entered into negociations with Mr. Melles, the owner, with a view to its 

 purchase, and with the object of ascertaining the value he placed upon it. 

 After some correspondence he expressed his willingness to sell the same at the 

 price of ;f 120 per acre." 



" Mr. Melles is the owner of about 500 acres of land in the hamlet of 

 Sewardstone, intersected in many places by green lanes and strips of Forest 

 land, which would prevent the full development of his estate, unless way- 

 leaves and other accommodations were granted to him ; he having at the 

 present time only agricultural rights of way and ways of necessity to his 

 property. 



Although we considered the proposed addition to the Forest very 

 desirable, we do not feel justified, having regard to the present condition of 

 the City of London Grain Duty Fund, in recommending your Honourable 

 Court to purchase the piece of land ; we therefore asked Mr. Melles to supply 

 a list of the way-leaves and accommodation he desired, and which he con- 

 sidered would be an equivalent for the 13 acres. Subsequently, we received 

 from his Surveyor a plan and schedule giving that information. We spent 

 very considerable time in viewing the various sites, and came to the conclusion 

 that the conce.ssions then suggested would be far more valuable than the 13 



