>EPPING
Pigot's Essex 1832-3 Trade Directory
Is a market town and parish, in the hundred of Waltham; nearly 17 miles from London, and 6 from Waltham Abbey. It is pleasantly situated on elevated ground, in the direct road to Newmarket, and surrounded by large rich dairies, the produce of which is much esteemed in the London markets. Henry John Conyers, Esq. (whose elegant mansion, 'Copped Hall,' stands about two miles from the town,) is lord of the manor. Epping contains a chapel of ease (the parish church being two miles distant), and two meeting-houses - one belonging to the independents, and the other to the quakers. The living of Epping is a vicarage, in the gift of the lord of the manor; the Rev. H.L. Neave is the present incumbent, and the Rev. C. Pitt is the minister of the chapel of ease. The numerous walks, near and through the adjoining forest, render the neighbourhood of this small town rural and delightful; it cannot, however, boast of any manufactories, or public institutions of any kind. The celebrated and ancient 'Fairlop Oak' stood in Hainault forest, formerly a part of Epping forest; it was some years since cut down, and part of its timber now forms the beautiful carved and highly finished pulpit in the new church of St.Pancras, London: the tree, when standing, measured (at about a yard from the ground) 36 feet in circumference, and covered with its branches an area of 300 feet. A large fair for cattle is held here on Tuesday in Whitsun week, and another on the 13th November, which are well attended by graziers from the adjoining districts. A weekly market is held on Friday, - Epping parish includes the chapelry of Epping Upland and the hamlet of Ryhill. The population of the entire parish, by the last government census, was 2,313; being an increase in the number of inhabitants, of 584, since the year 1801.
POST OFFICE, William Hawes, Post Master. - Letters from LONDON arrive every night at ten, and are despatched every morning at five.
COACHES To LONDON, the Royal Mail, and a coach from Norwich, call at the Cock, every night, and a coach, from the same Inn, every morning at eight.
** Coaches to and from LONDON, BISHOPS STORTFORD, BURY, CAMBRIDGE, HAVERHILL, NORWICH, SWAFFHAM, WALDON, &c. pass through Epping every day.
CARRIERS. To LONDON, William Hollingshead and John Nichols, every Tues. Thurs. & Sat.
Transcribed by CG
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales...., by John Marius Wilson. circa 1866
EPPING, a small town, a parish, a sub-district, and a forest in Essex. The town stands in the forest, on a rising-ground, near the source of the river Roding, 5½ miles NNE of Loughton; has now a railway station on the Ongar railway; is irregularly built; comprises one long wide street; is a seat of petty sessions, and a polling-place; and has a head post-office, a chief inn, a town hall of 1865, a church, and three dissenting chapels. It is well supplied with water from land-springs; it attracts visitors and residents, in the summer months, on account of its pleasant and healthy situation; and it was famous, until recently, for sending much dairy produce to London. A weekly market is held on Friday; and fairs on Whit-Tuesday, the first Friday of July, and 13 Nov. The parish includes also the hamlet of Epping-Upland-with-Ryehill. Acres, 5,281. Real property, £11,640. Pop., 2,105. Houses, 465. The property is much subdivided. The manor belonged to Earl Harold; was given to Waltham abbey; and now belongs to the duchy of Lancaster. Copped Hall, a very fine residence, is the seat of the Hon. A. Ashley. Copped Park contains an ancient British camp. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Rochester. Value, £729. Patron, Mrs. Conyers. The p. curacy of Xt. John is a separate benefice. A fine suite of national schools, in the pointed style, was erected in 1861. Baker's charity has £168 a-year; and other charities have £129.
The forest is a wild chase; extends from the vicinity of London southward (sic) to Walthamstow; formerly included a great part of Essex; is divided from Hainault forest by the river Roding; is under a lord warden and four verderers, elected by the freeholders; possesses great beauty, and is diversified with plantations, mansions, and villas; and formerly was a favourite resort of the citizens of London for archery, and the scene of an annual festival on Easter Monday, when a stag was turned out for a hunt by the civic sportsmen.
EPPING-GREEN, a hamlet 3 miles NNW of Epping, in Essex. It has a post-office under Epping, and a small Union chapel in the gothic style.
EPPING-PLAIN, a place in Theydon-Garnon parish, Essex; in the southern outskirts of Epping. Epping workhouse is here, and is in the Tudor style.
EPPING-UPLAND, a hamlet in Epping parish, Essex, 2 miles NW by W of Epping. It contains the parish church of Epping; and is conjoined with Ryehill Hamlet. Real property of the two, £3,349. Pop., 434. Houses, 91.
Transcribed by Noel Clark