Considering a royal day out? Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge awaits, a hidden Tudor gem nestled in Epping Forest’s embrace. Built for Henry VIII in 1543, this lodge was originally known as the Great Standing. It served as an open-sided viewing platform. Guests could watch the royal hunt unfold and even shoot deer from the upper floors.
Now a three-story museum, Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge has been carefully restored. The City of London Corporation has managed it since 1960. Although Henry VIII built it, the lodge is forever linked with Queen Elizabeth I. She frequently visited the Royal Forest of Waltham. Legend says that upon hearing of the Armada’s defeat, she rode her horse up the lodge’s staircase.
Step inside Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge and journey back in time. The ground floor showcases a Tudor kitchen. Discover the sights and sounds of Tudor cuisine. You can explore a lavish display of a Tudor dinner table. On the upper floors, exhibits reveal Tudor carpentry and costumes. The spaces between the studs on the upper floors were left open. This allowed viewers to see the hunt easily.
Imagine Tudor courtiers admiring the view over Chingford Plain and Epping Forest. Elizabeth I and James I both used the lodge. However, it gradually ceased to be used for its original purpose. In the eighteenth century, the upper viewing spaces were filled in.
Today, the hunting lodge hosts Tudor events. Historical reenactments and musical performances bring the past to life. The views from the top floor are stunning. They stretch over Chingford Plain and Epping Forest.
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge has undergone many changes. In the seventeenth century, a Keeper occupied the building. Manor Court sessions took place in the upper room. The timber frame was covered in plaster. Small windows were added. It was during this time that it became known as Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. The Watkins family lived there later. They farmed nearby for generations.
The City of London Corporation acquired the building in 1878. Restoration work followed. The frame was exposed and stained dark brown. Decorative timbers and bargeboards were added. Infill panels and windows were replaced. Despite these changes, the main structure remained almost intact. Many of the timbers are original.
The Butt family occupied the ground and middle rooms until 1926. A new lodge was built next door. The museum then expanded to fill all three floors. A timber-clad extension was added but later demolished in 1978.
Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge offers a unique Tudor experience. It provides views over Epping Forest. It is available for weddings. The lodge hosts a changing programme of events and exhibitions. The Hunting Lodge is regularly limewashed externally.
Extensive renovation work took place in 1993. Insect and fungal decay had damaged the timber frame. Decayed timbers were replaced with fresh oak. Victorian infill material was replaced with flexible daub. The roof tiles were re-hung. The brickwork was re-pointed. The outer surface was lime-washed.
So, come and explore Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge. Discover its Tudor secrets. Soak up the atmosphere of this incredible building. Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge stands as a testament to Tudor history.