300 



MEETING IN SUPPORT OF THE RE-ORGANISA- 

 TION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE EPPING 

 FOREST MUSEUM. 



Saturday, December 8th, igoo. 



In previous papers and reports in the Essex Naturalist the position 

 and prospects of the Epping Forest Museum have been fully detailed In 

 April, i8gg, the Epping Forest Committee of the Corporation of London 

 resolved to thoroughly restore the Queen Elizabeth's Lodge, and by removing 

 the partitions dividing the first floor room, which for centuries, probably, had 

 marred its appearance, to give more space, " with the object of extending the 

 Museum," whilst internal and external repairs were carried out to strengthen 

 the structural condition of the building. The Lodge has also been fitted with 

 hot-water apparatus to keep it dry and warm. Towards the cost of this 

 restoration, the Corporation of London contributed ;^5oo, and the Essex Field 

 Club has paid /50, being the expense of converting the scullery into a small 

 room to be used for curatorial work. The total cost of these alterations 

 has slightly exceeded ;^i,ooo. 



The two fine apartments, the " Oak Room " and the " Banqueting 

 Room," with the grand staircase and landings, are now available for exhibi- 

 tion purposes, and this accession of space has necessitated a reconsideration of 

 the whole plan of the Museum. It is the wish of the Epping Forest Com- 

 mittee that no large upright cases should be placed in the middle of the 

 rooms, and that no fittings should cross the main timbers of the walls. 



The intention is to fit up the Museum with low floor-cases, and with 

 shallow flat cases for the walls, so constructed as to fit into the intervals 

 between the main timbers, and thus not obscure the structure of the building. 



The experience the Club has had in work of this kind proves that at 

 least ^^300 will be required ; to be expended as follows ; — cases, frames and 

 fittings, /"150 ; preparation and purchase of specimens, glass-topped boxes, 

 tablets, labels, etc., etc., ;^ioo; and contribution of cost of Curator's room, 



To raise this sum of ;^300 the Epping Forest Museum Committee held a 

 public meeting in the Lodge on the above named day, the chair being taken by 

 E. N. Buxton, Esq., Verderer (Vlcc-Prcsidciit of the Essex Field Club), and several 

 local gentlemen and others interested in the question attended. 



The Chairman said he thought that they might congratulate the Essex 

 Field Club and the Secretary, Mr. W. Cole, on the possession for the purposes 

 of the Museum of a much more worthy building than before. The new, or 

 rather the restored, oak-room was an enormous improvement and addition to 

 the Lodge, and he was glad to think that by the new scheme it and the 

 Banqueting Room could be utilized for the Museum without detracting from 

 the antique appearance of the building, and in a manner to avoid over- 

 crowding. That was an object always to be aimed at. The charm of the 

 rooms would in his opinion be spoilt by over-crowding. It was quite clear 

 that they could not have everything that occurred in the district at the Lodge, 



