Epping

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Epping
latitude= 51.7004
longitude= 0.1087
population = 11,047 [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Council_Services/planning/census/Epping.asp Parish Profile : Epping ] ]
shire_district= Epping Forest
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
post_town= EPPING
postcode_district= CM16
postcode_area= CM
dial_code= 01992
os_grid_reference= TL455025
constituency_westminster= Epping Forest

Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located convert|3.5|mi|km|1 north-east of Loughton, convert|4.6|mi|km|1 south of Harlow and convert|10.9|mi|km|1 north-west of Brentwood.

The town retains a rural appearance being surrounded by Epping Forest and working farmland, and has many very old buildings, many of which are Grade I and II listed buildings. The town also retains its weekly market which is held every Monday and dates back to 1253 [http://www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk/Epping%20Town%20Information/Guide%2007-08.pdf] . In 2001 the parish had a population of 11,047 although this has increased marginally since then.

Epping has been twinned with the German town of Eppingen in north-west Baden-Württemberg since 1981 [ [http://www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk/Epping%20Town%20Information/About.htm Epping Town Guide ] ] . Although the once-famous Epping Butter, which was highly sought after in the 18th and 19th centuries, is no longer made, the equally well-known Epping sausages are still manufactured by Church's Butchers who have been trading on the same site since 1888.

History

"Epinga", a small community of a few scattered farms and a chapel on the edge of the forest, is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. However, the settlement referred to is known today as Epping Upland. It is not known for certain when the present day Epping was first settled. By the mid 12th century a settlement known as Epping Heath (later named Epping Street), had developed south of Epping Upland as a result of vigorous clearing of the forest for cultivation. In 1253 King Henry III conveyed the right to hold a weekly market in Epping Street, which helped to establish the town as a centre of trade and has continued to the present day.

The village of Epping Heath developed slowly into a small main-road town and by the early 19th century, considerable development had taken place along what is now High Street and Hemnall Street. Up to 25 coaches a day passed through the town from London en route to Norwich, Cambridge and Bury St. Edmunds. By the end of the 19th century 26 coaching inns lined the High Street. A couple survive today as public houses, e.g. The George and Dragon and The Black Lion. The advent of the railways put an end to this traffic and the town declined, but it revived after the extension of a branch line from London in 1865 and the coming of the motor car. A number of listed buildings, most dating from the 18th century, line both sides of the High Street although many were substantially altered internally during the 19th century. Some of the oldest buildings in the town can be found at each end of the Conservation Area, e.g. Beulah Lodge in Lindsey Street (17th century), and the attractive group of 17th and early 18th century cottages numbered 98-110 (even) High Street. [ [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Council_Services/planning/conservation/EPPING.asp EPPING ] ]

Epping today

Epping, as it stands today, has grown as a favoured town of residence for those who work in London. But, its market still brings shoppers in from surrounding villages and towns every Monday. Perhaps the most prominent building in Epping these days is the District Council's office with its clock tower, designed to bring balance to the High Street with the old Gothic water tower at the southern end, built in 1872, and St John's Church tower in the centre. The centre of Epping on and around the High Street is a designated conservation area. [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Library/files/planning/Conservation/Epping.pdf]

Epping's increasing popularity with young professionals and families, along with the Government's East of England Plan has lead to the current situation, were Epping is experiencing the biggest threat to-date to its rural status, with a number of sites (the largest being St. Margaret’s Hospital) being proposed for redevelopment in to new housing estates.

The various developments would see Epping’s housing stock rise by around 20% and has caused strong opposition from residents who wish to retain Epping’s rural ‘charm’, they state the town does not have the infrastructure to cope with a large influx of new residents and vehicles. Residents point to the regular traffic congestion, lack of parking spaces, low water pressure and total lack of an NHS dentist as examples. This opinion has be echoed by Epping Town Council, who have stated that Epping will not be able to cope with any new housing estates for at least 10 years. [http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/3569991.EPPING_____Decade_until_town_is_ready_for_development_/]

Further to the threat that new housing developments bring to the town, a new threat has arisen recently. Local government plans have been announced to locate a large number of gypsy camp sites in and around Epping. [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/news/2008/traveller_and_gypsy_consultation.asp] [http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/3731210.EPPING_FOREST__Twenty_seven_sites_earmarked_for_travellers/]

Governance

Epping is part of the Epping Forest parliamentary constituency, represented by Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice Eleanor Laing. From 1924 to 1945, the old Essex Epping division (which included Woodford, Chingford, Harlow and Loughton as well as Epping) was represented by Winston Churchill. It now sits in the Epping and Theydon Bois division of Essex County Council. The town is divided into two district council wards. Epping Hemnall encompasses most of the town south-east of Epping High Street (B1393) including Ivy Chimneys, Fiddlers Hamlet and Coopersale. The rest of Epping lies in Epping Lindsey and Thornwood ward, as does Thornwood in the adjacent parish of North Weald Bassett. Both wards elect three councillors each.

As well as the County and District Councils, Epping has a Town council consisting of 12 councillors, six each elected from Epping Hemnall and Epping Lindsey wards, one of which is elected Mayor of Epping and acts as Chairman of Council, as well as a civic and ceremonial head of the local community. The current Mayor of Epping, Councillor Ben Murphy, is thought to be the youngest Mayor-elect in the UK at just 24 years old [http://www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk/magazine/TAE%20Summer%2008.pdf] and there are suggestions he could be the youngest Mayor in the world.

Epping Forest District Council’s headquarters are located in Epping High Street. [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk]

Geography

Epping lies convert|17|mi|km|1 north-east of the centre of London towards the northern end of Epping Forest on a ridge of land between the River Roding and River Lea valleys.

Most of the population live in the built up area centred on and around the High Street (B1393) and Station Road. About a thousand people live in the small village of Coopersale which, while physically separated from Epping by forest land, is still part of the civil parish. A few dozen households make up the hamlets of Coopersale Street and Fiddlers Hamlet. Much of the eastern part of the present parish was until 1895 in the parish of Theydon Garnon.

The Town lies north-east of junction 26 (Waltham Abbey, Loughton A121) of the M25 motorway and south-west of junction 7 (Harlow) of the M11 motorway.

Transport

Epping is served by a number of bus routes, serving many surrounding towns and villages including Harlow, Thornwood Common, Abridge, Waltham Abbey, and Brentwood. The number 620 bus, operated by First Group, travels daily from Epping to the Anglo European School, Ingatestone.

Epping is served by London Transport rail services, and is the eastern terminus of the Central Line of the London Underground. The Central Line now terminates at Epping. However prior to 1994, it used to serve stations at North Weald, Blake Hall and Ongar were services terminated. The station has a car park with 508 spaces and is the second largest car park on the London Underground network [ [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/3873.aspx Epping station to be refurbished and improved | Transport for London ] ] , a toilet, a ticket machine, a pay phone as well as seats for sitting outside the station when waiting for a bus.

Main Line train services are available from a number of neighbouring towns, with the closest stations to Epping being Roydon, Harlow and Chingford, these are served by the West Anglia Main Line and are operated by National Express East Anglia. However there is no direct public transport to Roydon and Chingford stations from Epping, making Harlow station the most accessible.

Bus

{| class="wikitable"
Route Number
Route
Operational Details
-
7/7A/7B
Harlow to Chelmsford via Epping
Monday to Friday peak hours, 5 return journeys
-
55
Loughton to Harlow via Epping
Mon-Fri hour
-
213
Epping "St Margarets Hospital" to Waltham Cross via Upshire
Mon-Sat hour
-
333
Epping to Stansted Airport via Harlow
Mon-Sat every 30 minutes (only serves Epping during peak hours)
-
381/382
Toot Hill to Harlow "Bus Station" via Epping Green
Mon-Sat, few journeys
-
500
Old Harlow to Ongar "Two Brewers" via North Weald
Mon-Sat every hour
-
501
Old Harlow to Warley via Ongar and Brentwood
Mon-Sat every hour, Sunday every 2 hours (Only operates Ongar to Harlow on Sundays)
-
523
Loughton "Crown" to North Weald "Market" via Waltham Abbey
Saturday, 1 return journey
-
541
Loughton to Epping "St Margarets Hospital"/Harlow via Ivy Chimneys
Mon-Sat every hour, Sunday every 2 hours (extended to Harlow on Sundays)
-
620
Epping to Ingatestone
Schooldays
-
H1
Loughton to Harlow "Edinburgh Way" via North Weald
Mon-Fri about every hour, Saturday 4 journeys

Train

{| class="wikitable"
Service
Route
-
Central Line
Epping to West Ruislip via Central London
-
Central Line
Epping to Ealing Broadway via Central London

Education

* [http://www.st-johns.info/sectionpages/aboutschool/welcome.html St John's School] , the only secondary school in Epping, is now designated as a specialist Engineering College. The school has an active charity fundraising group led by a Student Executive team. In 2006 two students were awarded the Rotary Prize for 'Service to School' by the local Epping Rotary Club.
* [http://www.oaklandsschool.co.uk/page1a.htm Coopersale Hall School] , a private primary school at the end of Flux's Lane, Epping.
* [http://www.ivychimneys.essex.sch.uk/ Ivy Chimneys Primary School] , a primary school located in Ivy Chimneys Road, Epping.
* [http://www.epping-jun.essex.sch.uk/index.htm Epping Junior School] , a primary school located in the heart of Epping's town centre in St John's Road.

Notable residents past and present

*Singer, Rod Stewart [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/12452173/rod_stewart_a_man_of_wealth_and_taste/3 Rod Stewart: A Man of Wealth and Taste : Rolling Stone ] ]
*Ex-professional footballer and manager, Glenn Hoddle [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-438094/Teddys-house-egged-vandals-Danielle-reunion.html Teddy's house egged by vandals after Danielle reunion | Mail Online ] ]
* Actor and television presenter Bradley Walsh [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20000326/ai_n13945742 bradley walsh | Sunday Herald, The | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]
*Actor, Nick Berry [ [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3313057.html You've got m@il: Nick Berry Answers your e-mails - Daily Mirror - HighBeam Research ] ]
*Ex-professional footballer, Dennis Rofe [ [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=21668 Dennis Rofe - Southampton FC - Football-Heroes.net ] ]
*Lead singer of Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan [ [http://music.aol.com/artist/david-gahan/1061895 David Gahan - AOL Music ] ]
*Former lead singer of rock band Uriah Heep, David Byron [ [http://www.sleazeroxx.com/rip/davidbyron.shtml Sleaze Roxx: David Byron ] ]
*TV presenter and comedian, Griff Rhys Jones [ [http://www.thecnj.co.uk/review/113006/books113006_02.html Camden New Journal - Books: Griff Rhys Jones - Semi Detached: Pulling Up Roots in Surburbia ] ] [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article2060822.ece]
*Television presenter, Ben Shephard [http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.kinopoisk.ru/level/4/people/1282783/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=9&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBen%2BShephard%2BGMTV%2BEPPING%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG]
*Screenwriter and novelist, Julian Mitchell [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0593483/ Julian Mitchell ] ]
*Writer and illustrator, Jill Barklem [ [http://epping-bookshop.co.uk/Authors.html Local Authors ] ]
*Politician, Philip Hammond [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/parliament/0,,-2167,00.html]
* Supermodel, Lisa Snowdon [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-8637008-details/The+woodlanders:+Epping/article.do]
* Comedian, Alan Davies [http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/celebs-on-sunday/interrogation/2007/09/23/interrogation-alan-davies-115875-19808269/]
* Actress, Jessie Wallace [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/may/09/television.bbc]

Trivia

* Epping may be known to certain generations of people in some parts of Germany for being the home of Peter, David, Betty and Helga, featured in some textbooks used to teach English to German children.

* Epping Town F.C. were the local football team until they became defunct in 1984. The town's current club, Epping F.C., play in the Essex Olympian Football League

* On 27 April 2004 The Prince of Wales visited Copped Hall and inspected the restoration work of the Copped Hall Trust. [ [http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/newsandgallery/news/hrh_visits_the_copped_hall_in_epping_essex_403.html The Prince of Wales - HRH visits the Copped Hall in Epping, Essex ] ]

* Epping's famous weekly market changed form being held every Monday to every Friday from 1575 up until just after the First World War, at which point it returned back to being held on Monday. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42715 Epping - Economic history and local government | British History Online ] ]

* Epping is the starting point for the Essex Way, which is a long distance path between Epping and Harwich. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/essex/content/articles/2006/03/03/essex_way_day_one_walk.shtml BBC - Essex - Places - Where the town gives way to ancient wood ] ]

* Epping is known to be home to a large concentration of Greater Crested Newts, which are a protected species.

* Epping is home to the annual 'Epping Family Fun Run', which is held to raise money for the [http://www.rhysdanielstrust.org/index.html Rhys Daniels Trust] charity.

* Epping is home to the largest Marks & Spencer Simply Food store in the Epping Forest district, covering 12,000sq.ft. [ [http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/search/display.var.2255796.0.epping_ms_to_take_over_coop.php Epping Ms To Take Over Coop (from East London and West Essex Guardian Series) ] ]

* Epping is home to the first ever Clinton Cards shop which was opened in 1968. [http://www.clintoncards.co.uk/about/]

Twin town

* Eppingen, Germany [http://www.eppingeppingentwinning.co.uk]

Location Grid

References

*cite book | author=Epping Forest District Council | year=2005 | title=Key Facts: 2001 Census | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages= | publisher= | id= | url=http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Library/files/planning/key%20facts%20-%20final.pdf | authorlink=
*cite book | author= | year=2002 | title=Epping Town Guide | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages= | publisher=Plus Publishing Services (on behalf of Epping Town Council | id= | url= | authorlink=
*cite book | Roy= | last=Jenkins | year=2001 | title=Churchill | chapter= | editor= | others= | pages=391-392 | publisher=Macmillan | id=ISBN 0-330-48805-8 | url= | authorlink=
* [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Council_Services/planning/census/Epping.asp Parish Profile: Epping] - information about Epping from the 2001 census (PDF file)

External links

* [http://www.eppingtowncouncil.gov.uk Epping Town Council]
* [http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk Epping Forest District Council]
* [http://www.essexcc.gov.uk Essex County Council]
* [http://www.rbl-epping.org.uk Royal British Legion, Epping and District branch]
* [http://www.eppingtennisclub.co.uk/ Epping Tennis Club]
* [http://www.slm-leisure.co.uk/centres/epping/ Epping Sports Centre]
* [http://www.eppingcc.hitscricket.com/default.aspx Epping Cricket Club]
* [http://www.eppinggolfcourse.org.uk/index.htm Epping Golf Course]
* [http://www.eppingfc.co.uk Epping Football Club]
* [http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/living_environment/open_spaces/epping_forest.htm Epping Forest] - Information about Epping Forest, which is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation.
* [http://www.eppingweather.co.uk/ Epping Weather] - Weather records from the Epping Weather station.
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=epping&om=1&ll=51.697973,0.110219&spn=0.045538,0.168056 Epping in Google maps]
* [http://www.urban75.org/london/ongar.html Epping to Ongar] - Chronicles the history of the now defunct Ongar branch line.
*Epping Forest Pipe Band
* [http://www.eppingforum.co.uk/ Epping Forum] - Website for Epping residents to discuss local issues.
* [http://www.psn.weebly.com Plainly Say No] - The official website of the campaign against Bellway Homes' purposed development of 351 homes on part of the St. Margaret’s Hospital site.