NEW MAY 2018.  With the support of the GER, the Homeland Association published a handbook for those who were considering moving to the leafy suburbs (including Tottenham!) and commuting into the capital. It was entitled 'By Forest and Countryside' and gave practical Information concerning the residential districts on the Great Eastern Railway deemed to be within daily reach of London.

This is the fifth edition, dated 1914-1915. The covers are missing, but the editorial content (more than a hundred pages) is in good condition and complete. There are eight black-and-white photographs.  Most of the advertisements remain, and these are all given at the end of the file.

The technique was to devote a two-page spread to each locality. It is described, and the train service is given plus the fares to Liverpool Street, both day and season tickets. The range of rents in the area is stated, together with the rates, water costs and (if it had a supply) the prices of gas and of electricity. The local authority is named and then comes a list of data - the population, the death rate, the altitude, the subsoil, the early closing day and the best OS map to get. Paragraphs follow on educational facilities and on places of worship. Then come recreations (in Chelmsford the first one given is hunting with the Essex Staghounds!). Institutions are described, such as public libraries and museums. Where applicable, the account ends by naming the local newspaper.

The localities, described in alphabetical order, are: Billericay and Wickford; Bishops Stortford; Brentwood; Broxbourne and Hoddesdon (with Rye House and St Margarets); Buckhurst Hill; the Buntingford Line (Mardock, Widford, Much Hadham, Standon, Braughing, West Mill and Buntingford); Burnham-on-Crouch and Southminster; the Burnham Line (Battlesbridge, Woodham Ferrers, Fambridge and Althorne); Cambridge; the Cambridge Line (Elsenham, Newport, Audley End, Great Chesterford, Whittlesford and Shelford); Chelmsford; Chigwell and Grange Hill; Chingford and Highams Park; Clacton-on-Sea; Enfield; Epping (with Theydon Bois); Forest Gate and Manor Park; Frinton-on-Sea; Gidea Park; Harlow and Sawbridgeworth; Harold Wood; Hertford; Ilford; Ingatestone; Leyton and Leytonstone; Loughton (with Chigwell Lane); Newbury Park, Barkingside and Fairlop; Ongar (with Blake Hall and North Weald); Rayleigh, Hockley and Rochford; Romford; Saffron Walden; Seven Kings, Goodmayes and Chadwell Heath; Shenfield and Hutton; Southend-on-Sea, Prittlewell and Westcliff; Squirrels Heath; Stansted; Thorpe Bay; Tottenham; Waltham and Cheshunt; Wanstead and Snaresbrook; Ware; and Woodford.

This file will be available to download as soon as payment has been made. You go to your account and click on ‘Downloads’. New customers create an account as they place their order.