Inspire

Inspiration comes in many forms so if you’re new to Epping Forest District (or only really know one bit of it) here’s an idea – discover what has inspired others about the district.

A good starting point would be the District Museum in Waltham Abbey, itself an inspirational place to get all excited about the last of the Saxon Kings (King Harold, with connections to the Abbey) but that’s to digress from the wealth of information that’s to be found in the museum exhibits and the knowledge of its staff. You’ll discover artifacts from people, families and business. Items which link the district to monumental periods in history, some of which saw the district playing an important role. Did Boudica really make her last stand against the Romans at Ambresbury Banks Iron Age fort just outside Epping? Where exactly is King Harold buried at Waltham Abbey? Which of Winston Churchill’s speeches did he make from a window in Epping High Street as the local MP and how much was the Ongar explorer David Livingston knew, different from today? Ideas kick-started at the museum might be the inspiration to investigate the parts of North Weald Airfield unchanged since the Battle of Britain, or look for local examples of work from the internationally famous Cottis Ironworks of Epping, or discover the enchanted views of the district that inspired artists from Impressionist Lucien Pissarro to iconic London Transport poster illustrator Walter Spradbury. An hour in the museum could lead to days immersed in the heritage, culture and beauty of the district with experts on hand as you discover knowledge that brings the past alive, illuminates our present and gives us wisdom when considering the future.