The Temple

Description

A Grade II listing building, dates from the 1760s and is a survival from the heyday of Wanstead Park which had a magnificent Palladian mansion surrounded by extensive formal gardens.

Displays at The Temple tell the story of the Park from Tudor pageantry - queen Elizabeth really did sleep there - to its Regency demise with the true and tragic tale of the wooing of Catherine Tylney Long and her rake of a husband.

Have a look at archaeological finds from Wanstead's 'Lost Roman Villa' and the 18th century Grotto and play with our collection of hats and helmets spanning the centuries of Wanstead's history.

Information on the Forest and the Park, plus other books, toys and gifts are also available.

Epping Forest is the largest public open space in the London area, at almost 6,000 acres. It stretches 12 miles from Manor Park in East London to just north of Epping in Essex. As well as being a popular area for recreation and enjoyment it is also of national and international conservation importance with two thirds of it being designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.