The ESSEX parishes of WALTHAMSTOW and LEYTON were largely rural in character: marshes, farms and forests dominated the landscape. In the 18th.c a place attractive for  London’s merchants, bankers and businessmen, as they could get easy access to the CITY, thanks to FRANCIS WRAGG’s STAGE COACH service.

Still mid-19th c. the area provided a sylvan setting  for the houses of the CHARRINGTONS, the BUXTONS, the BARCLAYS and the COTTONS. Houses with landscaped grounds and cultivated farmland, producing food, flowers and ornamental trees for the ever increasing London market.

A safe place. Safe?. This was a base for the era’s HIGHWAYMEN, the scourge of forest travellers.

LEYTONSTONE was a hamlet laying on the high ground in the East of the parish, belonging to the MANOR OF RUCKHOLT until the early 18th c.

The ownership passé to the TILNEY family, owners of WANSTEAD HOUSE (finally sold out and destroyed, to pay for the debts of LORD TILNEY, 1824).

When the railways reached the area, 1856,, the cheaper and speedier transport combined with the expansion of employment opportunities, led to the rapid urbanisation of the area: the wealthy families moved out and their estates were replaced by now familiar streets of VICTORIAN housing. The area had become a suburban dormitory for clerks and workmen mostly employed outside the area.

The 1960s council estates obliterated historical houses and entire areas. 

These Victorian Almshouses were completed in 1859 for the Worshipful Company of Weavers to replace ones in central London which had fallen into decay. A number of flats provide sheltered accommodation for the elderly in a safe environment with resident staff. The architect was Joseph Jennings (1806-89) who was the architect and surveyor for the company and the building is listed by Historic England as Grade II.

There has been a milestone here since at least the early 18th century when the Middlesex and Essex Turnpike Trust was formed in 1722 and is shown on a turnpike map of 1728. It marks the junction of two main roads leading from London into Essex, at what is today the junction of New Wanstead and Hollybush Hill. However, some form of milestone has likely been here for much longer. It is listed by Historic England as Grade 2.

Two inter-war modernist apartment blocks in Holly Road, near Whipps Cross Roundabout. Originally part of Leytonstone but now within Redbridge. Not listed by Historic England or Redbridge.

Part of the highway from EAST ANGLIA, ESSEX, and through EPPING to LONDON, carrying long distance coaches as well as market carts and wagons.

The road left the forest at the GREEN MAN

1927. A GREEN MAN COACHING INN has existed at this junction since at least 1668. The original one sat nearer the BROWNING ROAD junction.
DDEFOE described it as a well established…

A known refuge of DICK TURPIN who, it is well known, stole the race horse  (plus some gold and silver, a knife and a horsewhip) from JOSEPH MAJOR, only a few yards from the inns, in 1737.

Landlord RICHARD BAYS endeavoured to find the horse, and he did: at the RED LION, in WHITECHAPEL!. According to legend, DT tried to get vengeance breaking into the inn, in August 1737. But he was in YORKSHIRE.

One more legend?: DT had a room in the inn, fitted out with a large chest, which had a false bottom, a trap door leading to an scape route!.

22 August 1722. CHRISTOPHER LAYER, of HOLBORN, with STEPHEN LYNCH, servant and friend, we’re on their way to meet LORD NORTH and LORD GREY at EPPING. While stopping off  at night here they were arrested accused of plotting to kill KING GI. LAYER was a lawyer, a committed JACOBITE, who had been to Rome to see the OLD PRETENDER. Found guilty, he was h d and q at TYBURN, and his head remained at TEMPKE BAR for 30 y.

By 1783 this was the most impressive licensed house along the road (CAMBRIDGE, HAYMARKED) valued for rates  at a considerable greater sums than other inns on the route.

By 1902 haycarters stopped here refreshment. The magistrates received complaints about those objectionable crowds, given that this was an intersection of roads and a tramway terminus, and the haycarters were discouraged from stopping here.

The GREEN MAN is a character belonging to an ancient mythology, appearing in ROMAN times as a figure half human, half vegetable… Later, in Britain, a pagan deity representing the spirits of trees and linked with the FESTIVAL OF BETTANE, on MAY 1st, marking the coming of SPRING and trees turning green. At one time called GREEN GEORGE or JACK-IN-THE-GREEN. The medieval church assimilated it somehow and could be found in churches

Much altered Georgian house.

Eminent Victorian throat specialist who, notwithstanding his great reputation, attended (in London, but unsuccessfully) the German Emperor FREDERICK III in his last illness (German doctors might be influenced by political considerations and consequences -I.e. incapacitation of the monarch)

He was against extirpating the larynx, as the disease was not demonstrably cancerous (German doctors disagreed). According to Mackenzie, when FREDERICK died, the cancer became malignant due to the irritating effects of the treatment, in Germany.

1865. He founded the world’s first EAR, NOSE AND THROAT , hospital, in GOLDEN SQUARE, SOHO. He worked at the ROYAL LONDON.

His works and writings paved the way for modern diagnosis and treatment of the diseases of the larynx (LARYNGOLOGY).

After the emperors death is life and career became uneventful.

Built about 1800, at the edge of the EPPING FOREST,

This was the home of Sir Edward North Buxton (1812-1858) one of a philanthropic family of brewers (TRUMAN, HANBURY & BUXTON, the BLACK EAGLE BREWERY, SPITALFIELDS).

His father Thomas Fowell Buxton (1786-1845) had helped both Elizabeth Fry in her work for prison reform and William Wilberforce in his fight to end slavery.
Edward was member of Parliament for South Essex and married Elizabeth the daughter of Elizabeth Fry. Two of their sons, Thomas and Edward played a large part in the introduction of the Epping Forest Act of 1878, which protected the forest itself from encroachment and also the rights of the commoners to use it.

Sir ENB, second Baronet (1812-58) married cousin CATHERINE GURNEY, from the GURNEYS of EARLHAM HALL, NORFOLK. She was the second daughter of SAMUEL GURNEY of HAM HOUSE, WEST HAM (and both had 12 children).

SIR FOWELL BUXTON, third Baronet (1837 -1916), was only 21 when he succeeded his father and became the head of the family, assuming grea5 social and business interests.

Althougha LOW CHURCHMAN he had been imbibed by the GURNEYS concern for good works. He married LADY VICTORIANOEL, daughter of the 1st EARL OF GAINSBOROUGH, and made his home at WARLIES, near EPPING.

His 9 children were al drawn to his schemes for social improvements, particularly in safeguarding open spaces against the encroachment of London. “A man can do an immense amount of good if he doesn’t care whomge5s the credit”, and  “when in doubt do the enterprising thing” were 2 of his mottoes.

He was Chairman of EPPING BEACH, Verger of EPPING FOREST, MP for MING’S LYNN, Governor of Australia.

when CATHERINE GURNEY, TFB mother,  died, at 97 years of age, most  of her127 descendants were involved in social work.

TFB and his brother ENB(Liberal MP for WALTHAMSTOW)  played a dominant part in fighting the course of the commoners of EPPING FOREST, with the back of the CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION, leading to the 1878 ACT.

ENB, 3rd son of the 2nd Baronet was VERDERERS of EPPING FOREST for 4 years, establishing a new system of management, contributing to its conservation. He wrote a small guide about EF, and was a founding members of FAUNA AND FAUNA INTERNATIONAL.

In 1924, from his deathbed, he bought HATFIELD FOREST and presented it to the NATIONAL TRUST.

Son, GS, GGS succeeded him

When, in 1868, the BUXTONS left the BETHNAL GREEN INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS were established here, run by the Bethnal Green Board of Guardians.  The Bethnal Green Schools for the Juvenile Poor:children between the ages of 3 and 14 years who had been orphaned or deserted, or whose parents were ill or in prison, were sent to the Schools.  Temporary iron buildings initially housed some 370 children, but permanent brick semi-detached 'cottage homes' gradually replaced the temporary structures.
In 1930 control of the Schools, now known as Leytonstone Children's Home,  passed to the LCC.  Children over 5 years of age attended the local community schools.until 1937. At the rear, surviving “homes” or “houses” (dormitories of the boys)

Then, it became a hospital, the LEYTONSTONE HOUSE.

In 1991 Tesco acquired the site containing Leytonstone House and the school buildings in order to build a major store.
Most of the site is now a Tesco superstore, but also contains a health centre and a small mixture of retail outlets, offices and homes (housing association flats).

The former SCHOOL HALLis now the pharmacy dept. of TESCO

Late 17th c.  building, dated from roof joints. Originally thatched. In 1953 WILDSMITH &AUBIN FUNERAL DIR.  The W. were a family of local carpenters since, at least, c.1812. They helped make the CAGE (FRED WILDSMITH was the first landlord of the NORTH STAR)

Modernist building,with a slightly nautical design.

Now, a CALVINISTIC METHODIST. 

1958.Arch. T and H LEWELYN DANIEL, in a contemporary style.

Foundedfor WELSH speakers throughout metropolitan ESSEX.

Originally, here, SYCAMORE HOUSE, LORD LISTER’s property.

Here, was born (a died) GUGLIELMA LISTER (1860-1949), the niece of LORD LISTER, and granddaughter of JJ LISTER.
She was an International authority in MYCETOZOE (MICOLOGY, fungi), member of the British Mycol.  Soc, a the Linnaean Soc.  She wrote “FLORA OF WANSTEAD PARK DISTRICT”.

Her ashes were scattered in the BURIAL GROUND of the QUAKER MEETING HOUSE.

BROWNING ROAD, a little short terrace of cottages, with the characteristic clay tile roofs, and the original Georgian sash windows… Low ceilings and door heights. 4 1/2”thick party walls. Most basic internal space standards… that is, the most modest domestic buildings of the period, very small in scale, picturesque, contrasting with later developments.

The truth is that the gentlemen families who lived in the are around 1770 employed many servants and small tradesmen, so this area was build to accommodate that numerous workforce, so that LORD WELLESLEY, owner of the WANSTEAD and LEYSPRING ESTATES, erected the cottages

In fact, it became BROWNING ROAD in 1900, one assumes that in homage of the poet ROBERT BROWNING (1812-89), we’ll know. For having eloped with ELIZABETH BARRETT on defiance of her father ban on her marriage.

Before: GREEN MAN LANE,BACK LANE, PARK LANE (it used to lead to WANSTEAD PARK).

LEYTON BOROUGH COUNCIL had plans to build here modern housing. The decision was put on hold. But, meanwhile, the borough ceased to exist in 1965, and the future of the area was reconsidered.

While, individually, none of the buildings in the street were of sufficient quality to merit listing, the area as a whole was considered historically and architecturally interesting, as it was in a district dominated by very different patterns of development: scale, style, informal layout… all typical of country buildings of a precious age, made advisable to protect it as a CA (fir’s introduced by the 1967 CIVIC AMENITIES ACT). Here, the designation was made in 1973.

Six terraces of cottages, a PH, a converted warehouse.

Simple w up w down vernacular buildings that were let on a yearly or similar tenancies and were not copyhold.For that reason they do not appear in the MANOR COURT records and the exact date of construction is therefore uncertain, although the 1840s seems more likely.

Brick, Welsh slate, clay tiles and pantiles.

Chimney stacks and pots.

Early cast iron street sign (around 1900]

At the rear of the GREEN MAN (now FOSTEST VIEW) was the site of an unsavoury group of hovels

A former gravel pit, the pond was drained in the 1970s

It is named after the ancient woodland of Bush Wood, 

“BUSHOWOOD” road?

Residence JM KNIGHT Surveyor of MILE END BOARD

Gives name  to the area South of the CA, W of the High Road

GEORGE ANDREW HUTCHINSON was a prominent Non-Conformist (d.1913). Editor of the BOYS OWN PAPER, established by the RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY to provide exciting stories, not penny dreadful style.

In the midst of the cottages this establishment makes an interesting tale, narrated by the nieces of LORD LISTER of SYCAMORE HOUSE: uncle FRED WILDSMITH brought back a monkey from a sailing voyage (his only one, he was 23) on the 2 masted  BRIGANTINE (sailing vessel)  NORTH STAR, under CAPTAIN NUNN. He obtained a lease to set up business from the CHARRINGTONS of LEYSPRING HOUSE, FOR throwing 2 cottages into one and converting the whole into a beer house

Frederick  WILDSMITH was the son of FREDERIC WILLIAM WILDSMITH carpenter/builder, based at 5 HIGH ROAD; he tended for the WEST HAM UNION WORKHOUSE, in 1843. In 1873 he was elected to the local board.

Tree lined rows of characterful houses, with decorative keystones above entrances: face of bearded man (long heavy beard!), water related (POSEIDON, FATHER THAMES) or is it the GREEN MAN, or a king?. Typical of Victorian Romanticism revival.

Georgian houses behind shops, occupying the site of the front gardens. The extensive grounds behind have been largely built up 

Wealthy families lived here attracted by the forest side setting and easy access to to London

Dutch style gable with hoist

Site of the Conservative club?

He was the brother of WILLIAM COTTON, of WOOLWOOD HOUSE. He moved from LEYTON’s WALNUT TREE HOUSE

Notice the Dutch style gable with hoist above numbers 698 and 700.

Opposite on the lefthand side the Remar UK charity shop, numbers 845-847 High Road, used to be shoe retailers Russell & Bromley. Note under the ugly facia the quality design of original shop windows and entrance.

708 High Road on the corner of Grove Road was in 1956

W Hinds, jeweller.

We’re the COTTON, originally, the Huguenot COTIGNIE family?

Original entrance and windows (quality design)

By STEPHEN DUNCAN
The sculptor's ideas for a series of sculptures known as 'The Arcadia Series', including this piece, began whilst he was at the British School in Rome. The large Acanthus leaves that grow in the city and are represented in much of its architecture, were cast by the sculptor and are incorporated in the design.

A family of jewellers and watchmakers from STAMFORD, LINCLONSHIRE. They were in charge of cleaning the county  churches  clocks. 
GEORGE HINDS moved to London establishing  shops in HARROW ROAD and then EDGWARE ROAD.

Built as showrooms for gas-fuelled heating and cooking equipment, for some years was Marc Jason's Shoeworld, now it is a medical clinic. 
The building was designed by George Grey Wornum (1888 - 1957), the architect of the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects at 66 Portland Place, W1. The granite stonework panels on the façade survive as do the black stone rim containing the glazing, the fixing holes for the flood lights that ran along the stone panels above the shop windows, and the Crittall windows above ground level. Above the suspended ceiling original Grey Wornum plasterwork appears to have survived, as does the lecture theatre at the rear, together with some original joinery and Ironmongery.

Matalans has been filling. the block up from St John's Church.

Bearmans department store  (“The store with the personal touch”, op. in 1898, by FRANK BEARMAN, a 27 years old ,draper had one of its two sites here. It was a family run business, until 1962.it was sold to the CO-OP.

BEARMAN had purchased by 1906 a nearby furniture store. In 1910 he opened an arcade, trying to match department stores of Central London.

Between 1908 and 1921 he was joint manager of ALDERS (SOUTH LONDON).

In 1957 the first escalators outside Central London were installed in the KIRKDALE ROAD extension.

Between numbers 682 and 684 there is a gateway that once led to the premises of the Essex Dairy Farm Company which had cows grazing in Ongar.

Beyond is Barclays Bank. A bank is shown here on the1915 Ordnance Survey map.

Designed in 1934 by James Ambrose Dartnall (who died in 1985 and was of a local family). There were municipal electricity showrooms on the ground floor. The building has a Classical exterior and an Art Deco interior, well preserved

Built 1832-3 to the design of Edward Blore of Suffolk white bricks in the Early English style. William Cotton paid for its construction. A later expanding population needed a larger church and a south aisle was added to the design of Caroe, somewhat Arts & Crafts. The churchyard railings are a rare survival and were copied for St John's Stratford. The church is listed Grade Il including its gates, gatepiers and railings

Former Woolworths store, now Argos, is typical but a good quality building 

A 1906 postcard view of the junction of Church Lane and High Road shows 'The Stores' which in 1936 had become

'Hales Stores. A Hales Stores painted sign pointing down to the entrance survives on the wall facing up the High Road. The shops are now Santander Bank, number 660 and Bairstow Eves.

Alfred Hitchcock was born at 517 High Road, Leytonstone, in the east of London on 13th August 1899. To mark 100 years since this event, and to commemorate the director's link with the area, 17 mosaics have been installed in the entrance corridors of Leytonstone tube station. They were made in vitreous glass tesserae, using the reverse method, by Greenwich Mural Workshop. The work required some 80,000 tiles, took seven months to complete, and the final installation took place during April 2001. Amongst the scenes from films, there are also images of Leytonstone, portraits of Hitchcock and even trademark cameo roles. Leytonstone is on the Central underground line, five stops east of Liverpool Street - go see them if you can!

Text with acknowledgements to an article by Lubna Ul-Hasan in "Grout", the newsletter of the British Association for Modern Mosaics, February 2002.

From LEYTONSTONE to WALTHAMSTOW

THE WALLWOOD ESTATE was sold for development in 1874 (the wealthy families like the COTTONS were moving out), and plans were laid before the local board in 1883. Building was delayed until the 1890s, due to disputes with the FILLEBROOK ESTATE, along what is now COLWORTH ROAD. By the end of the century,  much of the current housing and street layout was complete.

One of 4 sister churches to ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST established in the late 19th c. to meet the increased  demand for church accommodations.The  first church though was established  in the corner of COLWORTHROAD and FOREST GLADE, in a corrugated iron building.

Although the site on which St. Andrew’s is built was given to the Church in 1875, it was some 10 years before any kind of building was erected. And it was build in stages, due to lack of funds and the need for fundraising, as te the costs were high due to the quality of the materials (I.e the elaborate CHANCEL, MEMORIAL to WILLIAM COTTON).

The arch. was ARTHUR BLUMFIELD. In an early English style, Kentish rag stone, knapped flints.

Most of the parish stands within the former medieval estate of WALLWOOD,  which was purchased in 1817 by William COTTON. A highly successful businessman and governor of the Bank of England, he donated the land.

In its Edwardian heydays, had the best attendance in the area (1.500 people, on Sunday). City workers now were living in the area.

Classes for children and adults, gym, tennis, cricket, regular entertainment… were organasided in the “iron building”, former church
No pew rents paid, it had no endowment, and, unusually, no vicarage or died.

1913. Choir and clergy vestry added.

The church thrived until the early 30s. Finances became an issue. After the WR it started the discussion about a possible closure. A formal decision was taken in 1967, but a new curate, REV.GRAHAM LAUT, was convinced that the  church had a future… The hall was sold and redeveloped in an imaginative and sympathetic way. Parts of the church were converted

From then ST.ANDREW’S has moved from strength to strength…

After further fundraising (and replacing  an earlier Sunday school building) in 1904 the hall was open, and enlarged on 1912. A simple red brick and stone building, designed by HENRY SMART, in an ARTS & CRAFTS STYLE. It features decorative stained glass in ART NOUVEAU, in the eyebrow dormers and in the large mullioned windows above the ornate main entrance.

On he site of FOREST FARM, originally LEYTON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLFOR GIRLS, a grammar school opened in 1911.

Red brick and stone, ARTS AND CRAFTS, Elizabethan (domestic) style, by arch.of LEYTON DISTR.COUN.  W.JACQUES ARIBA (also CARNEGIE LIBRARY, LEA BRIDGE ROAD). It has a fine panelled hall with a hammerbeam roof.

In 1968 became  LEY. SEN. HIGH SCH, a  girls comprehensive. In the 80s a mixed comprehensive. From 2007 a business and enterprise specialised status. In 2008 “leadership partners” status. Designed hig performance.

DAME SHARON WHITE (Treasury,OFCOM, JOHN LEWIS) was a pupil.

Alongside WHIPPS CROSS RD.

In the 18th c. the scenic attractiveness of the FOREST led to a building frenzy, in this part of the LEYTON parish still rural.

Originally a row of 12  (now only 6 remaining) middle-class houses were b.  in 1767, in the restrained style of the period, typified by rubbed brick riches and elevation devoid of decoration, excep5vthe timber door case with a classical pediment. It contrasts with the abundance of stucco decorations applied the  later developments.

Originally 2 pairs of Victorian Villas, combined on the porches, original cast iron work. Internally lit5le has survives.

1937. Simple, Neo-Georgian. TE DAVIDSON & SONS and SHERWOOD.

The Christian Scientists celebrated their first services in 1906, in the 18th c. property that used to stand on the site.

The name of this MANDIR (est. 1980)  translates as all inclusive, oecumenical, nom sectarian. They follow SANATAN DHARMA, and have a sister temple WEMBLEY.

Cafés.

A substantial late Victorian one.Door and surround richly ornamented. Stucco decoration.

In 1889 the West Ham GUARDIANS bought the FOREST HOUSE ESTATE and HOUSE (44 acres of grounds), from the BOSANQUETS as a site for a future INFIRMARY, for which planning approval was granted in 1894.  The old mansion house was then used from that year as an annexe to the West Ham Union workhouse in Leyton to accommodate elderly infirm men. It was demolished in 1964. One of the fire places was salvaged and incorporated into the foyer.

The original infirmary buildings (1903) were designed on pavilion lines by FRANCIS STURDY. 4 awe inspiring symmetric blocks, with tiered covered walkways. 2 massive towers, which together with the pepper pot roof are now recognised local landmarks. It housed 672 beds in 24 wards. £250.000.

During WW1 the king visited (tablet) as sounded troops were treated here.

Whipps Cross Hospital was formally founded in 1917, and by the end of the War became a general hospital. Management passed to the COUNTY BOROUGH OF WEST HAM.

In 1946 an extension was opened and became part of the NHS in ‘48.

The former main entrance building, in the form  of a Northern Renaissance Town hall (incorporating a Perpendicular Style CHAPEL with a double hammerbean roof) is now concealed by the characterless A&E Dept, a state-of-the-art one, opened in 2012, one of the largest and busiest A&E departments in the UK.

It has over 700 beds and has It is part of Barts Health NHS Trust.

It is a teaching hospital for medical students from BARTS AND THE LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY.

It has its own radio station.

It had one of the worst rates of MRSA, in 2008, but in 2010 it had the lowest rate.

The hospital serves a diverse community from Chigwell to Leyton, with notable celebrities David Beckham, Jonathan Ross, David Bailey (fashion photographer ), Graham Gooch (cricketer), Steve Harris (IRON MAIDEN) Harry Kane, and Richard Ayoade both born in the hospital.

Hospital Artworks

In fact the name specifically applies to the junction of LEA BRIDGE and WHIPPS ROADS and WOOD ST., the highest point in the area. (207 ft., 63 m.), and boundary between LEYTON and WALTHSMSTOW.

JOHN PHYPPE set up a wayside cross somewhere on this site. In the ESSEX dialect “F” sounded as “W”, hence the name PHIP’S, or PHYPPYS, or FYPP’S, or PHIPPES… ended being WHIPPS.

No, this was not the place where those found guilty of breaking the forest laws were whipped!….

To WALTHAMSTOW along WOOD STREET 

This large figure of a winged angel with a neon halo stands on the roof of a maker of electric signs. Because of its high position it is clearly not a fallen angel, but because it is out in all kinds of weather it does appear to be somewhat tarnished.

From WOOD STREET, along BUCK WALK and MORGAN AVENUE, OAKHURST CLOSE: 
To FOREST SCHOOL CONSERVATION AREA (and to SOUTH WOODFORD or SNARESBROOK)

East of WALTHAMSTOW parish, on the high ground, at the FOREST edge, SIR JOHN SALTER (LM of London, 1740; chairman of E.I.C., 1743) erected 3 rows of houses in FOREST RISE and FOREST PLACE, intended for prosperous London merchants and their families.

By the 1880s the character and appearance of the district had undergone radical change, with the advent of the railways and the process of urbanisation. Terraces of Victorian yellow brick houses  occupied the space of fields and commons. And the wealthiest classes moved out, their handsome, large villas and grounds being redeveloped. 
BUXTON HOUSE,  OAKHURST, MARRYATS LODGE all were lost.

The 1878 EPPING FOREST ACT, after a long struggle, helped prevent further enclosures of forest land, and preserve the sylvan quality of the area.

Here, in a his house in FOREST PLACE, in 1830, ARCHIBALD DU BOULAY established EXETER COLLEGE (had he West Country connections?). WILLIAM ORAM was its  principal, and it only survived until 1833, but its flirtation with education is still remembered in the naming of COLLEGE PLACE.

Apparently undeterred, DU BOULAY and a group of local gentry, including WILLIAM MORRIS SENIOR, WILLIAM COPELAND (and SPODE, partner in POTTERY) and WILLIAM COTTON, established the FOREST PROPRIETARY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, in Oct.1834: which has proved a more permanent and worthy feature in the history of WALTHAMSTOW.

Under the first Head Master REV. THOMAS DRY the school, intended for the local  gentry, was to feed KING’S COLLEGE, with which it was closely associated until 1910.

During the later part of the 19th c. under the REV. GILDERDALE, and notably REV. DR.FREDERICK BARLOW GUY,  it expanded and transformed. From then on, it was called FOREST SCHOOL, and “In Pectore Rober” was adopted as a motto, cementing its place as one of London’s leading schools.

From 1936 HM MILLER transformed it into a modern 20th c.school.

After WW2, new blocks, swimming pool, arrival of girls. Only DIAMOND STRUCTURE

REV.GUY lived for a time in the corner of ORFORD ROAD and HOE ST., opp.CLEVELANDS HOUSE. It was there that he tutored the young WILLIAM MORRIS formOXFORD (1851): and they remained friends thereafter. As a result of it, MORRIS designed a new banner which was presented in 1879, now displayed in a case at the S end of the DINING HALL.

Erected in 1857 thanks to the money raised by GILDERDALE’s friend WILLIAM COTTON (of WALLWOOD). In an Early English Gothic, by WILLIAM WHITE, a relative and pupil of GILBERT SCOTT.
Extended in 1875. And thanks to contemporary architect G.E.STREET, the internal timber panelling came from JESUS COLLEGE, OXF.

Polychrom angels.

PRINCESS HELENA, daughter of QV, placed the foundation stone in 1886. A recent copy of the SCHOOL MAGAZINE (it was one of the first to be publish  in the country) was deposited under it.

A length of the internal carved frieze comes from JESUS COL. Remainder of the panelling added over the years as funds became available.

Arch. RICHARD CREED FRIBA

MORRIS designed BANNER

MEMORIAL WINDOW, by EDWARD BURNE JONES (his wife married GUY) commemorates  the MORRIS AND CO firm.

EDWARD BJ WINDOW. This two windows were destroyed during WW2 (only the REBECCA  depiction fragment was saved).

Typical MORRIS WINDOW, depicting grapes and flowers, behind organ

Forest had an important role in the development and creation of association football, and the common at the front of the school may well be regarded as a "cradle of the game".  It used to play host to rudimentary games of football, cricket, athletics… in the early school days.

Now is protected for all to enjoy it, prvoiding an spacious and scenic setting.

SIR (THOMAS)FOWELL BUXTON was a prominent member of the COMMONS PRESERVATION SOCIETY, instrumental in saving the FOREST, along with THOMAS WILLINGDALE and the CORPORATION

SNARESBROOK COUNTY COURT                 SNARESBROOK & WANSTEAD SOUTH WOODFORD

After the hospital, along SHERNHALL STREET

Keep enjoying this guide!