116 EPPING FOREST. 
to lapse, and were ultimately abandoned, and the 
Forest was practically limited to the two main dis- 
tricts of open land—those of Epping Forest and 
Hainault Forest. 
In the Report of the Land Revenue Commissioners 
for 1793, it is stated that Epping Forest then con- 
sisted of 9,000 acres of open land. It appears that 
already the Forest was frequented by the public from 
London for recreation, for the Commissioners, in very 
strong terms, said that it was most important that 
nothing should be done to countenance its inclosure, 
and especially so because of its close proximity to the 
Metropolis. 
From a report made by the Lord Warden, in 1813, 
as to the prevailing abuses, it appears that gravel and 
sand pits were open in all directions in the Forest, and 
that the materials were used without restraint; the turf 
was removed from large areas of ground; bushes and 
underwood were cut and taken away at pleasure; deer- 
stealers were so numerous that there was hardly a 
house for miles round the Forest which did not contain 
one or more; encroachments and inclosures were made 
in various parts; oak timber was shamefully destroyed : 
young trees were wasted, and pollards and underwood 
were lopped and carried away.* 
From 1793 to 1848 an almost continuous series of 
small inclosures took place of the waste land in the 
Forest, but generally by arrangement between the Lords 
of Manors and their Commoners, and with a report of 
* Fisher's “ Forest of Essex,” p. 336. 
