Place Name
Named after the species of tree (Fagus sylvatica) that grow in the forest. The oldest of the beeches are believed to be at least 1,000 years old and forest is said to be an “internationally important ancient Beech Forest”. When the forest was opened to the public in May 1882, Queen Victoria had a tree to be planted in honour of the occasion, and for the beech wood, at High Beech, to be known as Queen Victoria’s Wood. The name doesn’t appear to have stuck however. This street on the edge of the forest was laid out over an area formerly known as Whitehall Plain.
