The Epping and, Ongar Highway Trust

Survivors of the Trust

The Epping and Ongar Highway Trust's milestones (at least those surviving) are all of a common design. Probably all the stones were set square to the road but all were altered by by David Nash, stonemason of Epping, in 1822. Further corrections had to be made after the opening of the new road through Epping Forest in the 1830s. All are about 110cms in height above the undressed stone, with an rectangular (not square) section. However, many appear to be of different heights but this illusion depends on the amount of sinkage or build up of the surrounding surface soil. They all have a slight taper from bottom to top, "diamond" positioned to the road (except the North Weald stone at TL 4973 0337 which has been repositioned 45 degrees clockwise) with a concave upper front facet. With the exception of the granite example at Bovinger all are limestone. There are some subtle variations, notably the Bovinger stone, which has tapering chamfers on all four corners down to the undressed level, and the Loughton 'LONDON 11' which has parallel chamfers to the corners.. There is evidence that either rounding or chamfering was intended for the Chipping Ongar stone but abandoned before completion. It has has prominent, heavy, chiseling marks on the on the left and right corners.

TO VIEW PICTURES ONLY USE THE MOUSE OVER MAP

The complete Essex map by Peter Nelson can be seen HERE

A Brief History of the Epping and Ongar Highway Trust.

The Epping and Ongar Highway started life in 1701 after an Act (I Anne stat. 2, c. 10) limiting authority from Woodford to Harlow Bush Common. The Act was renewed in 1723 (Geo. I, c. 9), 1743 (16 Geo. II, c. 19) and 1768 (9 Geo. III, c. 63). It was the last Act that authorized that was the true beginning of the Trust. The first meeting of the Trustees was held in Epping on 2 May, 1769 for improvements and maintenance of the 'way' between Epping and Thornwood. Gates and tollhouses were erected at either end of the route by 1769. To prevent drovers avoiding payment by crossing Bell Common the gate at the western end of Epping, already having been moved once, was again moved in 1783. The Epping and Ongar Highway Trust was fully set up by the Act of 1786 and in 1794 another tollhouse and gate came into being at The Bald Faced Stage, Buckhurst Hill. It was proposed in 1786 to extend the Trust's route from Epping to Chelmsford via Chipping Ongar. However, due to objections by Writtle inhabitants and their reluctance to accept a compromise, the route ended at the Norton Heath/Writtle boundary.

In addition to maintaining the roads, the Trust also made several improvements, especially in the hillier parts between Buckhurst Hill and The Wakes Arms. Goldings Hill (near the Loughton LONDON 13) had a new cutting and the spoil to create an embankment in 1771-1775. Similar works were carried out at Buckhurst Hill where the road was straightened. The old road can still be traced curving around The Roebuck inn. Between 1824 and 1828 further major improvements to ease hills were carried out at Loughton and Latton Hill, Thornwood. The final and largest improvement was the construction of an entirely new road over 4 miles in length from Woodford to The Wakes Arms. This had the effect of shortening the routes north and east from Epping. The evidence is still there to be seen as the milestone near The Wakes Arms is marked LONDON 13 like that a mile away at Goldings Hill, Loughton, on the old road. An Act of 1836 allowed the Epping and Ongar to extend their rights into the Middlesex and Essex Trust south of Woodford although it was not gated until c.1860.

The arrival of the railways in the 1840s had serious repercussions on the long distance stage coaches and carriers. The amount of toll receipts fell rapidly and stage coaches to Norwich ceased to operate by about 1846. Under an Act of 1869 the affairs of the Trust were wound up in 1870. This resulted in the removal of the gates and the selling off of all property and materials.

Tollhouses at North Weald and Norton Heath survive as do most of the milestones. Of those missing, the LONDON 21 near Blake Hall was probably still in existence in the 1960s. The LONDON 23 near High Ongar might have been lost somewhat earlier during road works. None of the four along "The Epping New Road" (may have been cast iron) remain.

All images by Sue Adams (SA) and John V Nicholls (JVN)

Buckhurst Hill to Thornwood Common
Buckhurst Hill (JVN) NGR: TQ 4088 9420	A unique design in Essex. It may have started life as a parish boundary as the inscription on the reverse is 'BUCKHURST / HILL / & / CHIGWELL / PARISHES'. If used as a milestone with the old (reverse) inscription, then it must have been placed on the opposite side of the road.	Loughton (SA) NGR: TQ 4160 9550	The 'standard' Epping & Ongar with a subtle difference. This particular example has all corners parallel chamfered to ground level. A good example of full height.
Loughton (JVN) NGR: TQ 4264 9685	Although in fairly good condition, this stone has sunken about 30-40cms.	Loughton (SA) NGR: TQ 4293 9821
Epping Forest (SA) NGR: TQ 4280 9950	Located near bus lay-by just east of The Wakes Arms roundabout.	Epping Forest (SA) NGR: TL 4390 0058	Although suffering from an impact a few years ago, the stone shows little damage since re-erection. Full dressed height visible. The front faces were cleaned down in May 2003 and the legend repainted.
Epping Forest (SA) NGR: TL 4540 0146		Epping (JVN) NGR: TL 4641 0261	Sunken and partly obscured by years of accumulated of road dirt and ivy, this stone deserves better. However, its semi-buried state may have been beneficial in preserving its lower features.
Thornwood Common (SA) NGR: TL 4708 0408	Sunken with damage to top.	Thornwood Common (JVN) NGR: TL 4680 0562	Full dressed height visible. Old damage includes top right corner broken off. Note how the dressing of the stone for renumbering has left a deep recess.
Harlow (JVN) NGR: TL 4734 0860	The change from the Epping and Ongar trust and the Hockerill Highway Trust is shown as Harlow Bush Common, the location of this stone. There was a turnpike beyond this stone but yet to be determined if it belonged to the Epping & Ongar or the Hockerill.
Epping to Norton Heath
Epping (SA) NGR: TL 4773045		North Weald Bassett (JVN) NGR: TL 5065 0450
North Weald Bassett (SA) NGR: TL 4973 0337	Although very weathered, this stone still has its legend in good condition.	Bovinger (SA) NGR: TL 5175 0524	Milestone made of granite. The stone was cleaned 23 October 2002 and legend repainted in May 2003.. Full dressed height visible. CAUTION must be exercised when viewing this milestone. Traffic passes by fast and close
Chipping Ongar (SA) NGR: TL 5430 0400	This limestone example received a wash down on 16 August 2002. Click on thumbnail for the "then and now" pictures.	Norton Heath (JVN) NGR: TL 5965 0380	Near property name "Milestone" on the south side of the A414. The full height of the dressed stone (110cms) is visible on this example. Some indiscernible Roman numerals on back faces and some indistinct lower case lettering below 'CHELMSFORD / 8 / MILES' on the right face.
Norton Heath (SA) NGR: TL6085 0430	Since this photo was taken in 2001 the stone has suffered impact damage, probably from a hedging flail. Click on thumbnail for recent images (23 October 2002) before and after washing. Further damage was occasioned during hedge flailing during 2003/2004 winter period.		The tollhouse at Norton Heath. Click for larger image.
The milestones below do not belong on Epping and Ongar Highway Trust but are included on this page for their close proximity.
Theydon Garnon (JVN) NGR: TQ 4711 9777	It is probably the oldest surviving in Essex but a date has yet to determined. It was possibly aligned on the ancient Suffolk Way. CAUTION Take extreme care when viewing this milestone. Very narrow, but busy lane.	Chipping Ongar (JVN) NGR: TL 5516 0201	The sole survivor on a route from Romford to Ongar via Passingford Bridge. CAUTION Take extreme care when viewing this milestone. Heavy traffic.