EAST LONDON 211 



to East London to be described here. Epping 

 Forest (with Wanstead Flats), although quite 

 close to Wanstead Park at its nearest end, runs 

 far into Essex, and lies in a perfectly rural 

 district. Wanstead Park itself may seem almost 

 too distant from London to be included here ; 

 but Wanstead village and Snaresbrook are all one, 

 and Snaresbrook and Leytonstone extend loving 

 tentacles and clasp each other, and Leytonstone 

 clasps Ley ton, and there is no break in spite of 

 the mud and water ; and the only thing to be 

 said is that east of the Lea it is Bethnal Green 

 mitigated or ruralised. 



6 1 was in despair for many days,' some old 

 traveller has said, relating his adventures in 

 uninhabited and savage places, ' but at length, to 

 my great joy, I spied a gibbet, for I then knew 

 that I was coming to a civilised country.' In 

 like manner, at Snaresbrook and Leytonstone 

 many things tell us that we are coming to, and 

 are practically in, London. But Wanstead 

 Park itself, and the open country adjoining it, 

 with its fine old trees, and the Eiver Boding, 

 when the rains have filled it, winding like a 

 silver serpent across the green earth, is very 

 rural and beautiful and refreshing to the sight. 



p 2 



