Place Name
A reference to the position of gamekeeper there to stop poaching in 6,000 acre Epping Forest. This however was an honorary title given to the Queen Victoria’s seventh child, Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (later Windsor), the Duke of Connaught when the park was opened to the public by her on May 6, 1882. The title, given to such a close member of the Monarch’s family, was remarked on by Sir Thomas Chambers, on behalf of the City of London Corporation which was charged with managing the forest: “Your Majesty has already manifested a deep interest in this wild and picturesque tract of ancient woodland by appointing his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn its Ranger.” Today, the forest keepers act as forest rangers and very rarely use their powers as a constable.
