Theydon Bois
Encyclopedia
Theydon Bois is a large residential village
and civil parish
in the Epping Forest
district of the County of Essex
, England
. It is located 1.4 miles (2.2 km) south of Epping
, 0.85 miles (1.3 km) northeast of Loughton
and 6 miles (9.6 km) south of Harlow
.
Theydon Bois is within the bounds of the M25 motorway
and is situated near to its junction with the M11 motorway
. It is served by Theydon Bois tube station
on the Central Line
and has one primary school, Theydon Bois County Primary School. It lies on the edge of Epping Forest
.
Despite the French-looking word "bois", the village name is usually pronounced to rhyme with "choice" or just "boys".
The origin of the village placename comes from the family of Bois (de Bosco) which held the manor
in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The second part of the village name has been 'Boys' as far back as can be traced with various spellings. When the Great Eastern Railway
built its branch to Ongar
, they asked the clerk of the Epping Parish Council, a Mr John Windas, how it should be spelt. As he had some knowledge of French and in view of the village's proximity to the forest, he suggested the best spelling would be 'Bois'.
A notable characteristic of the village is its complete absence of street lighting. Villagers have consistently voted against the installation of such lighting for decades, fearing that it would damage the traditional village ambience and require a rise in council tax
.
A recent survey commissioned by the City of London, the responsible authority for the Green, found that four of the trees were required to be felled and others should be monitored. A 170 year history of inadequate management had led to the trees to become diseased, meaning that rapid death is likely ot occur in the next four to five years.
Although felling was accepted as necessary, there was local concern about the visual impact that this would have on the village. A new line of trees, therefore, were planted in late 2010, set back from the current row. The semi-mature replacements will eventually dominate the site, although the level of maturity observed by the original avenue will likely not be enjoyed by the current generation. The TBPC Chairman, Robert Glozier, said, “The Avenue of Trees is an intricate part of the Village. It has to be preserved not just for the short term but also the long term and the best way to do this is to have a parallel Avenue of Trees to take over”.
Some of the new trees have been sponsored as memorials, and details of these will be printed on an information board near the avenue.
Another annual tradition is the Open Gardens Day, which is held in the summer. The event, which is now in its 30th year, allows local residents to show private gardens to both local and external visitors.
Epping Forest
is an ancient woodland, and former Royal Forest. It borders the village of Theydon Bois, and a clearing near the town's main road previously held host to the Donkey Derby until 2007. The community is very active in the sustainable management and conservation of the forest. Groups including the Theydon Bois & District Rural Preservation Society were founded to preserve the rural character of the countryside in and around Theydon Bois.
The objectives of the society are given as;
Activities are said to include;
on the London Underground
network and is connected by bus to Loughton
, Debden
, Abridge
, Epping
and Harlow
.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Epping Forest
Epping Forest (district)
Epping Forest is a local government district of the county of Essex, England. It is named after Epping Forest, of which the district contains a large part...
district of the County of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located 1.4 miles (2.2 km) south of Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
, 0.85 miles (1.3 km) northeast of Loughton
Loughton
Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located between 11 and 13 miles north east of Charing Cross in London, south of the M25 and west of the M11 motorway and has boundaries with Chingford, Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill...
and 6 miles (9.6 km) south of Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
.
Theydon Bois is within the bounds of the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
and is situated near to its junction with the M11 motorway
M11 motorway
The M11 motorway in England is a major road running approximately north from the North Circular Road in South Woodford in north-east London to the A14, north-west of Cambridge.-Route:...
. It is served by Theydon Bois tube station
Theydon Bois tube station
Theydon Bois is a London Underground station in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Debden and Epping...
on the Central Line
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
and has one primary school, Theydon Bois County Primary School. It lies on the edge of Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
.
Despite the French-looking word "bois", the village name is usually pronounced to rhyme with "choice" or just "boys".
The origin of the village placename comes from the family of Bois (de Bosco) which held the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The second part of the village name has been 'Boys' as far back as can be traced with various spellings. When the Great Eastern Railway
Great Eastern Railway
The Great Eastern Railway was a pre-grouping British railway company, whose main line linked London Liverpool Street to Norwich and which had other lines through East Anglia...
built its branch to Ongar
Ongar
Ongar can refer toin England*High Ongar, Essex*Chipping Ongar, Essex **Ongar , an ancient administrative unit**Ongar railway stationin Ireland*Ongar, Dublinin Pakistan...
, they asked the clerk of the Epping Parish Council, a Mr John Windas, how it should be spelt. As he had some knowledge of French and in view of the village's proximity to the forest, he suggested the best spelling would be 'Bois'.
A notable characteristic of the village is its complete absence of street lighting. Villagers have consistently voted against the installation of such lighting for decades, fearing that it would damage the traditional village ambience and require a rise in council tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
.
The Avenue of Trees
What is widely regarded as Theydon Bois' most iconic landmark is the 'Avenue of Trees' which lines Loughton Lane, one of its main roads. The oak trees were planted in the 1830s to, reputedly, celebrate the assession of Queen Victoria to the throne. Chairwoman of the City of London's Epping Forest Committee, Barbara Newman, said, “The Theydon avenue [has been] identified as the highest priority among the many other avenues of trees that the City of London currently looks after.”A recent survey commissioned by the City of London, the responsible authority for the Green, found that four of the trees were required to be felled and others should be monitored. A 170 year history of inadequate management had led to the trees to become diseased, meaning that rapid death is likely ot occur in the next four to five years.
Although felling was accepted as necessary, there was local concern about the visual impact that this would have on the village. A new line of trees, therefore, were planted in late 2010, set back from the current row. The semi-mature replacements will eventually dominate the site, although the level of maturity observed by the original avenue will likely not be enjoyed by the current generation. The TBPC Chairman, Robert Glozier, said, “The Avenue of Trees is an intricate part of the Village. It has to be preserved not just for the short term but also the long term and the best way to do this is to have a parallel Avenue of Trees to take over”.
Some of the new trees have been sponsored as memorials, and details of these will be printed on an information board near the avenue.
Events
Several yearly events are observed in Theydon Bois. Of most note is the annual tradition of the Donkey Derby, which is usually held in July. 2011 will see the 24th consecutive event of its kind. The Derby involves children participating in donkey racing, which can be bet on in small-stakes. Individual races or the donkeys themselves can be sponsored in advance by villagers who are then offered the right to name the race or donkey respectively. Also included in the day are rides, games, stalls, donkey rides and food and drink tents. Profits made from the Donkey Derby are raised for the Theydon Bois Scouts, although have recently begun to benefit the local Girl Guides as well.Another annual tradition is the Open Gardens Day, which is held in the summer. The event, which is now in its 30th year, allows local residents to show private gardens to both local and external visitors.
Theydon Bois and Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
is an ancient woodland, and former Royal Forest. It borders the village of Theydon Bois, and a clearing near the town's main road previously held host to the Donkey Derby until 2007. The community is very active in the sustainable management and conservation of the forest. Groups including the Theydon Bois & District Rural Preservation Society were founded to preserve the rural character of the countryside in and around Theydon Bois.
The objectives of the society are given as;
- To resist all attempts of encroachment on the Green Belt.
- To preserve all public footpaths and right-of-way.
- To do such other things as may be incidental or conductive to the maintenance of local amenities.
Activities are said to include;
- Regular monitoring of Planning Applications.
- Organising walks from the Village Hall to explore the surrounding fields and forest.
- Two public meetings a year, in July and October, with illustrated talks on subjects of interest.
- An annual newsletter published in May.
- Maintenance of an archive of photographs of historical interest.
- Creating a photographic record of trees of interest in and around the village.
Awards
- Winner, Rural Community Council of Essex 'Essex Best Kept Village Competition (Class 2)', 2004
- Winner, Rural Community Council of Essex 'Essex Best Kept Village Competition (Class 2)', 2007
- Runner up, Rural Community Council of Essex 'Essex Best Kept Village Competition (Class 2)', 2010
- Winner, Essex Community Magazine Awards for 'Best Community Magazine in Essex' (Theydon Bois Village News), 2010
Restaurants and cafes
Theydon Bois has three Indian restaurants, The Indian Ocean, Theydon Bois Balti House and Salaam Namaste. There is also a Chinese takeaway Long Ling, and Belgium style coffee shop Belgique.Pubs
The village has three pubs, the Bull, the Queen Victoria and the Sixteen String Jack. Theydons (previously The Railway Arms) closed in October 2011 and is currently for sale as a residential development opportunity.Transport
Theydon Bois has a stationTheydon Bois tube station
Theydon Bois is a London Underground station in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is served by the Central Line and is between Debden and Epping...
on the London Underground
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
network and is connected by bus to Loughton
Loughton
Loughton is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located between 11 and 13 miles north east of Charing Cross in London, south of the M25 and west of the M11 motorway and has boundaries with Chingford, Waltham Abbey, Theydon Bois, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill...
, Debden
Debden, Epping Forest
Debden is a suburb of the town of Loughton, in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It takes its name from the ancient manor of Debden, which lay at its northern end. The area is predominantly residential, but is also the location of Epping Forest College, East 15 Acting School and the De...
, Abridge
Abridge
Abridge is a village in Essex, England. It is on the River Roding, southwest of the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Epping Forest and in the parliamentary constituency of Brentwood & Ongar...
, Epping
Epping
Epping is a small market town and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of the County of Essex, England. It is located north-east of Loughton, south of Harlow and north-west of Brentwood....
and Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
.
Famous residents
- David Sullivan, millionaire publisher of Sport NewspapersSport NewspapersSport Newspapers is the English publishing firm responsible for The Daily Sport, Sunday Sport and a number of mid-shelf and top shelf magazine titles such as Adult Sport, Sport Babes, Sport Reader's Wives and Ladsmag....
owner of Birmingham City Football Club and co-owner of West Ham United Football Club, resides in Birch Hall, off Coppice Row.