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We will be closed over the Easter bank holiday weekend from Friday 3 April until Monday 6 April. The London Archives will re-open as usual on Tuesday 7 April.

Funded and Managed by
City of London Corporation
The London Archives

Epping Forest archives

Records of the Corporation of London

This archive contains records about how Epping Forest has been managed by the City of London Corporation, mainly from the 1870s onwards.

What’s in the Collection?

The records cover many aspects of forest management and include:

  • Legal and statutory documents
    These show how the City of London Corporation protected Epping Forest, including court cases, laws, bye-laws, and the election of forest officials known as verderers.
  • Administrative records
    These include letters from the Superintendent, meeting notes, diaries from forest keepers, reports, and documents about land changes and licences.
  • Financial records
    These show how money was managed, including yearly accounts, income and spending ledgers, and cash books.
  • Staff records
    These include wage books and staff registers, which may be useful for people researching family history or specific individuals.
  • Museum records
    These relate to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, including visitor books, research notes, and historical documents.
  • Printed materials
    These include books, leaflets, posters, and invitations created by the City of London and other groups connected to Epping Forest.
  • Visual materials
    A rich collection of photographs, postcards, slides, and artwork showing the forest from the 1880s to the early 2000s.
  • Maps and plans
    Detailed maps and drawings showing changes in the forest landscape over time.

Researching People

If you're looking for information about specific people, the staff records may help. These include:

  • Staff registers
    • 1895–1902: CLA/077/D/02
    • 1901 and 1927–1965: CLA/077/D/03
  • Wage books
    • 1881 and 1900–1955: CLA/077/D/01
  • Forest keepers’ diaries and reports
    • Diaries (1895–1948): CLA/077/B/08
    • Reports (1912–1962): CLA/077/B/07
  • Recruitment records
    • Details about the first Superintendent and staff: CLA/077/A/06
  • Committee minutes and papers
    • Indexed records from the Epping Forest Committee: COL/CC/EFC/01 and 02

Visual Highlights

The collection includes many photographs and slides from 1880 to 2007 (CLA/077/G), as well as prints, paintings, and drawings (CLA/077/E).

Letters and Correspondence

There’s a long series of letters to and from the Superintendent (1880–1962). These letters give insight into:

  • Forest management decisions
  • Land use changes
  • Relationships between staff and local residents

The letters are sorted alphabetically by sender for each year. Volunteers have highlighted some interesting letters, which are described in the online catalogue. Please note: these highlights are examples and not a full list.

How the records are organised

The archive is divided into eight sections:

  1. Legal and statutory records (1792, 1850–2006): CLA/077/A
  2. Administration (1876–1999): CLA/077/B
  3. Finance (1878–1985): CLA/077/C
  4. Staff (1889–1965): CLA/077/D
  5. Museum and interpretation (1706–1999): CLA/077/E
  6. Printed materials (1850–2009): CLA/077/F
  7. Visual materials (1880–2009): CLA/077/G
  8. Maps and plans (1820–2002): CLA/077/H

Start searching the catalogue

Begin your research by exploring the catalogue.

Search the collection