# High Beach > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/High_Beach > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/High_Beach.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Beach > Source revision: 1352988516 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Epping_Forest_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) | civil_parish = [Waltham Abbey](/source/Waltham_Abbey) | london_distance_mi = 11 | london_direction = SW | shire_district = [Epping Forest](/source/Epping_Forest_(district)) | shire_county = [Essex](/source/Essex) | local_name = High Beech }} '''High Beach''' (or '''High Beech''') is a [village](/source/village) inside [Epping Forest](/source/Epping_Forest) in south-west [Essex](/source/Essex), England. Part of the civil parish of [Waltham Abbey](/source/Waltham_Abbey), the village is within the [Epping Forest District](/source/Epping_Forest_District) and the [ward](/source/Wards_and_electoral_divisions_of_the_United_Kingdom) of Waltham Abbey High Beach, and lies approximately {{convert|11|mi|km}} north-east of [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross). It is the location of [Lippitts Hill](/source/Lippitts_Hill) and the [Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit](/source/Metropolitan_Police_Air_Support_Unit).{{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 }} ==Elevations== High Beach is in the uplands of Essex, which reach heights of {{convert|110|m}} [above sea level](/source/Above_Ordnance_Datum) on the western fringes of Epping Forest. Areas of the surrounding [forest](/source/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.[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](/source/Ordnance_survey) website Many of the forest paths are naturally gravel-lined with underlying deposits of [Bagshot Sands](/source/Bagshot_Formation). 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.[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 ==The Church of the Holy Innocents== thumb|left|Church of the Holy Innocents [Holy Innocents' church](/source/Holy_Innocents_Church%2C_High_Beach) is surrounded by [forest](/source/forest). It was built in 1873 by [Thomas Charles Baring](/source/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](/source/architect) [Arthur Blomfield](/source/Arthur_Blomfield), and was built in the [Early English](/source/Early_English_Period) style at the cost of £5,500. It was [consecrated](/source/Dedications_in_the_Church_of_England) in 1883 and became the [parish church](/source/parish_church) in 1884. The {{convert|125|ft}} [tower](/source/Bell_tower) and [spire](/source/spire) contains 13 [hemispherical](/source/hemispherical) bells cast at the [Whitechapel Bell Foundry](/source/Whitechapel_Bell_Foundry).[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[http://www.highbeachchurch.org.uk/history-of-high-beach-church/ History of High Beach church] Retrieved 09 March 2016 The church is [Grade II listed](/source/Grade_II_listed), giving it legal protection from unauthorised modification or demolition.{{NHLE |desc=Church of the Holy Innocents, Avey Lane |num=1124126 |access-date=29 November 2025}}{{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}} In mid-2024, it was used as a filming location for ''[Wake Up Dead Man](/source/Wake_Up_Dead_Man)'', for scenes set in [New York state](/source/New_York_(state)). ==Notable residents== In July 1837, [poet](/source/poet) [John Clare's](/source/John_Clare) deteriorating [mental](/source/Mental_disorder) 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](/source/Depression_(clinical)), was invited as a guest to Allen's asylum.[https://books.google.com/books?id=lQwAXgtImBsC&dq=dr+Matthew+Allen+high+beach&pg=PA7 Dr Matthew Allen] Retrieved 15 February 2011 Clare spent four years at the asylum before escaping in July 1841.[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 [Alfred, Lord Tennyson](/source/Alfred%2C_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." The lawyer [William St Julien Arabin](/source/William_St_Julien_Arabin) lived at Beech House, later renamed Arabin House. The mixed martial arts pioneer [Edward William Barton-Wright](/source/Edward_William_Barton-Wright) lived at The Lodge, High Beech, in 1932.''London Gazette'', 15 Mar 1932. ==Culture and community== thumb|left| The Visitor Centre Amenities include the church, primary school,[http://www.highbeech.essex.sch.uk/ High Beech primary school] Retrieved 22 February 2011 horse riding school[http://www.highbeechridingschool.co.uk/ High Beech riding school] Retrieved 22 February 2011 and three [pubs](/source/Public_house): the ''Duke of Wellington'' (now closed), ''The King’s Oak'' and ''The Owl''.The Robin Hood is thought of as in High Beech, but is actually in [Loughton](/source/Loughton).[http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/results.shtml/el/High%20Beech%3BEssex/ High Beech public houses] Retrieved 22 February 2011 Owned and managed by the [London Borough of Waltham Forest](/source/London_Borough_of_Waltham_Forest), the Suntrap Forest Education Centre and The [Field Studies Council](/source/Field_Studies_Council) Epping Forest Field Centre offers [field studies](/source/field_research) and other activities to schools and other groups.[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 {{#tag:ref|[Naturalist](/source/Naturalist) and [author](/source/author) [Fred J Speakman](/source/Fred_J_Speakman) established the Epping Forest Field Studies Centre and later taught at the Suntrap.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120312004907/http://www.friendsofeppingforest.org.uk/pdfspring01.pdf p7 Fred Speakman] Retrieved 24 February 2011|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.[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 thumb|left|Kings Oak public house ==Sport and forest walks== In February 1928, an oval [cinder](/source/Cinder_track) circuit to the rear of the ''Kings Oak'' public house was the venue for [Britain's](/source/United_Kingdom) first [motorcycle speedway](/source/motorcycle_speedway) meeting.[http://www.retro-speedway.com/page.php?34 King's Oak speedway] Retrieved 7 March 2011 Courses and appropriate tracks for outdoor pursuits include [horse riding](/source/horse_riding), [mountain biking](/source/mountain_biking), [orienteering](/source/orienteering) and seasonally there are [running](/source/running) events. The {{convert|15|miles}} [Epping Forest Centenary Walk](/source/Epping_Forest_Centenary_Walk) passes through the locality.[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 The route was established in 1978 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the ''[Epping Forest Act 1878](/source/Epping_Forest_Act_1878)''.[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 Section 18 of the [London Loop](/source/London_Loop), a [long distance footpath](/source/Long_distance_footpaths_in_the_United_Kingdom), can be joined at nearby [Sewardstone](/source/Sewardstone). In Mott Street the High Beach [Cricket](/source/Cricket) Club play in Division 4 of the Herts & Essex League.[http://highbeach.play-cricket.com/subsite/web_pages/231556 High Beach CC] Retrieved 3 July 2014 {{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](/source/Epping_Forest_District_Council). Residents of High Beach fall into the Waltham Abbey High Beach Ward, which also covers [Sewardstone](/source/Sewardstone) and [Upshire](/source/Upshire). Traditionally, the ward has been a [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) safe seat. In the late 2000s, there was a strong showing for [Green Party](/source/Green_Party_of_England_and_Wales) - 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](/source/A104_road_(England)), [M25](/source/M25_motorway), [A121](/source/A121_road_(England)) and the [A112](/source/A112_road) pass through or close by to the locality. '''Rail''' *[Chingford railway station](/source/Chingford_railway_station) is approximately {{convert|3|miles}} away. '''London Underground''' *[Loughton tube station](/source/Loughton_tube_station) is approximately {{convert|2|miles}} away. '''Bus''' *[London bus route 215](/source/London_Buses_route_215) serves the A112 Sewardstone Road, approximately {{convert|1|miles}} away. Arriva route 66 connects into [Loughton](/source/Loughton_tube_station) and runs approximately hourly to the fringes of the village close to the Woodbine pub.{{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}} ==Further reading== * [Foulds, A](/source/Adam_Foulds). ''[The Quickening Maze](/source/The_Quickening_Maze)''. 2009 [Jonathan Cape](/source/Jonathan_Cape) {{ISBN|0-224-08746-0}} ==Notes and references== ;Notes {{Reflist|group=n}} ;References {{Reflist}} {{commons category|High Beach}} {{authority control}} Category:Villages in Essex Category:Waltham Abbey --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [High Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Beach) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Beach?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.