{{Short description|Village in Essex, England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}} {{Use British English|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = High Beach | country = England | region = East of England | static_image = Epping Forest Centenary Walk 1 - Sept 2008.jpg | static_image_width = 250px | static_image_caption = Centenary walk | population = | os_grid_reference = TQ4087198174 | coordinates = {{coord|51.662|0.032|display=inline,title}} | post_town = Loughton | postcode_area = IG | postcode_district = IG10 | dial_code = 020 | constituency_westminster = Epping Forest | civil_parish = Waltham Abbey | london_distance_mi = 11<!-- straight line per MOS – constant and comparable with other place distances --> | london_direction = SW | shire_district = Epping Forest | shire_county = Essex | local_name = High Beech }} '''High Beach''' (or '''High Beech''') is a village inside Epping Forest in south-west Essex, England. Part of the civil parish of Waltham Abbey, the village is within the Epping Forest District and the ward of Waltham Abbey High Beach, and lies approximately {{convert|11|mi|km}} north-east of Charing Cross.
It is the location of Lippitts Hill and the Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NPAS base reopens at Lippitts Hill |url=https://www.npas.police.uk/news/npas-base-reopens-lippitts-hill-epping-forest-essex |access-date=11 December 2022 |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119021530/https://www.npas.police.uk/news/npas-base-reopens-lippitts-hill-epping-forest-essex |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Elevations== High Beach is in the uplands of Essex, which reach heights of {{convert|110|m}} above sea level on the western fringes of Epping Forest. Areas of the surrounding forest are also named High Beach or High Beech. However, individual smallholdings of land are given over to residential, agriculture and mixed uses, particularly beside the straight A-road which bisects it.<ref name="os">[http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TQ048812] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029221924/http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm?mapAction=gaz&gazName=g&gazString=TQ048812 |date=29 October 2013 }} Ordnance survey website</ref> Many of the forest paths are naturally gravel-lined with underlying deposits of Bagshot Sands. It is believed that the name High Beach came from an early description of the localised sand and gravel exposure in this part of the forest.<ref>[http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rog.coleman/Archive/ERock/Essex%20Rock.pdf Essex rock] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911234847/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rog.coleman/Archive/ERock/Essex%20Rock.pdf |date=11 September 2012 }} Retrieved 9 February 2011</ref>
==The Church of the Holy Innocents==
thumb|left|Church of the Holy Innocents
Holy Innocents' church is surrounded by forest. It was built in 1873 by Thomas Charles Baring to replace the earlier church (St Paul's) which was located in Church Road around 1 mile away from the present church's location and had fallen into disrepair. The new church was designed by the architect Arthur Blomfield, and was built in the Early English style at the cost of £5,500. It was consecrated in 1883 and became the parish church in 1884. The {{convert|125|ft}} tower and spire contains 13 hemispherical bells cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.<ref>[http://www.gcna.org/data/UKEHBCHI.HTM Whitechapel foundry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215033812/http://gcna.org/data/UKEHBCHI.HTM |date=15 December 2010 }} Retrieved 31 January 2011</ref><ref name=High>[http://www.highbeachchurch.org.uk/history-of-high-beach-church/ History of High Beach church] Retrieved 09 March 2016</ref>
The church is Grade II listed, giving it legal protection from unauthorised modification or demolition.<ref name="nhle">{{NHLE |desc=Church of the Holy Innocents, Avey Lane |num=1124126 |access-date=29 November 2025}}</ref><ref name="Foster">{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Laura |title=Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery filmed in Essex church |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyn5e641yjo |access-date=29 November 2025 |work=BBC News |date=29 November 2025}}</ref>
In mid-2024, it was used as a filming location for ''Wake Up Dead Man'', for scenes set in New York state.<ref name="Foster" />
==Notable residents== In July 1837, poet John Clare's deteriorating mental disorder caused him to be admitted to the High Beach private asylum under the guidance of the enlightened Dr Matthew Allen. The poet, after suffering from depression, was invited as a guest to Allen's asylum.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lQwAXgtImBsC&dq=dr+Matthew+Allen+high+beach&pg=PA7 Dr Matthew Allen] Retrieved 15 February 2011</ref> Clare spent four years at the asylum before escaping in July 1841.<ref>[http://www.thewordtravels.com/johnclare.html John Clare] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509053957/http://www.thewordtravels.com/johnclare.html |date=9 May 2008 }} Retrieved 15 February 2011</ref> Alfred, Lord Tennyson lived at Beech Hill House from 1837 to 1840. During his short stay he may well have encountered Clare and other inmates. Tennyson was reported by a journalist as being "...delighted with the mad people...the most agreeable and the most reasonable persons he has met with."<ref name=High/> The lawyer William St Julien Arabin lived at Beech House, later renamed Arabin House. The mixed martial arts pioneer Edward William Barton-Wright lived at The Lodge, High Beech, in 1932.<ref>''London Gazette'', 15 Mar 1932.</ref>
==Culture and community== thumb|left| The Visitor Centre Amenities include the church, primary school,<ref>[http://www.highbeech.essex.sch.uk/ High Beech primary school] Retrieved 22 February 2011</ref> horse riding school<ref>[http://www.highbeechridingschool.co.uk/ High Beech riding school] Retrieved 22 February 2011</ref> and three pubs: the ''Duke of Wellington'' (now closed), ''The King’s Oak'' and ''The Owl''.<ref>The Robin Hood is thought of as in High Beech, but is actually in Loughton.[http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml/el/High%20Beech%3BEssex/ High Beech public houses] Retrieved 22 February 2011</ref> Owned and managed by the London Borough of Waltham Forest, the Suntrap Forest Education Centre and The Field Studies Council Epping Forest Field Centre offers field studies and other activities to schools and other groups.<ref>[http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Library/files/Forester/Forester51.pdf The Suntrap Forest Education Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605235904/http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/Library/files/Forester/Forester51.pdf |date=5 June 2011 }} Retrieved 24 February 2011</ref> {{#tag:ref|Naturalist and author Fred J Speakman established the Epping Forest Field Studies Centre and later taught at the Suntrap.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120312004907/http://www.friendsofeppingforest.org.uk/pdfspring01.pdf p7 Fred Speakman] Retrieved 24 February 2011</ref>|group= n}} Epping Forest Visitors’ Centre in Nursery Road is one of three visitor centres in the forest that provide learning, tours, exhibits and recreational facilities.<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/visitor-information/Pages/High-Beach-visitor-centre.aspx Epping Forest Visitor Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826212233/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/visitor-information/Pages/High-Beach-visitor-centre.aspx |date=26 August 2016 }} Retrieved 24 February 2011</ref> thumb|left|Kings Oak public house
==Sport and forest walks== In February 1928, an oval cinder circuit to the rear of the ''Kings Oak'' public house was the venue for Britain's first motorcycle speedway meeting.<ref>[http://www.retro-speedway.com/page.php?34 King's Oak speedway] Retrieved 7 March 2011</ref>
Courses and appropriate tracks for outdoor pursuits include horse riding, mountain biking, orienteering and seasonally there are running events. The {{convert|15|miles}} Epping Forest Centenary Walk passes through the locality.<ref>[http://www.friendsofeppingforest.org.uk/cent.htm Epping Forest Centenary Walk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312004855/http://www.friendsofeppingforest.org.uk/cent.htm |date=12 March 2012 }} Retrieved 7 March 2011</ref> The route was established in 1978 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the ''Epping Forest Act 1878''.<ref>[http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8AC5550E-4CB4-4DB5-8142-E2F829B754AB/0/OS_EF_manage9803.pdf Epping Forest Act 1878 p3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709023223/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8AC5550E-4CB4-4DB5-8142-E2F829B754AB/0/OS_EF_manage9803.pdf |date=9 July 2011 }} Retrieved 7 March 2011</ref> Section 18 of the London Loop, a long distance footpath, can be joined at nearby Sewardstone.
In Mott Street the High Beach Cricket Club play in Division 4 of the Herts & Essex League.<ref>[http://highbeach.play-cricket.com/subsite/web_pages/231556 High Beach CC] Retrieved 3 July 2014</ref> {{clear}}
==Governance== High Beach is part of the civil parish of Waltham Abbey, and the parish council is Waltham Abbey Town Council.
The local authority is Epping Forest District Council. Residents of High Beach fall into the Waltham Abbey High Beach Ward, which also covers Sewardstone and Upshire. Traditionally, the ward has been a Conservative safe seat.
In the late 2000s, there was a strong showing for Green Party - but they failed to accumulate enough votes to win the ward - the support for them has since diminished. In the 2019 Local Elections, the Conservatives won with 60% of the vote.
==Transport links== '''Road'''
*Major roads A104, M25, A121 and the A112 pass through or close by to the locality.
'''Rail'''
*Chingford railway station is approximately {{convert|3|miles}} away.
'''London Underground'''
*Loughton tube station is approximately {{convert|2|miles}} away.
'''Bus'''
*London bus route 215 serves the A112 Sewardstone Road, approximately {{convert|1|miles}} away. Arriva route 66 connects into Loughton and runs approximately hourly to the fringes of the village close to the Woodbine pub.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bus route 66 |url=https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/find-a-service/66-from-waltham-cross-bus-station-to-waltham-cross-bus-station |website=Arriva |accessdate=27 September 2020}}</ref>
==Further reading== * Foulds, A. ''The Quickening Maze''. 2009 Jonathan Cape {{ISBN|0-224-08746-0}}
==Notes and references== ;Notes {{Reflist|group=n}} ;References {{Reflist}}
{{commons category|High Beach}}
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Category:Villages in Essex Category:Waltham Abbey