larkswood

History of the woods

The area in which Ainslie and Larks Wood are to be found was part of the "Manor of Chingford Earls" (which was acquired by Henry V111 in 1544). Last owners of the title were the Boothby Heathcote family of Friday Hill House. Both areas of woodlands are part of the ancient "Forest of Essex".

The name 'Larks' is probably associated with the family of Thomas Laverk mentioned in the subsidy rolls of 1319. An isolation hospital opened in 1901 on the site of 'Larks Wood Lodge' and some 20 acres surrounding it (now the site of Chingford Hospital and houses). Larks Wood was colloquially called the 'bluebell wood' in the early 20th century and hoards of visitors almost destroyed the great quantity of bluebell plants.

Ainslie (Endsleigh) Wood was known as 'Little Larks' in 1559 and later as 'St, John's Wood'. This information was from a former owner Sir Robert Sharpe Ainslie whose residence was the 'Rolls' in the19th century. By the 1960's the only building there was known as Rose Cottage (on the site of Nasebury Court Hospital and Rolls Park tennis courts).

Ainslie Wood was privately owned until fairly recently and not accessible to the public until the London Borough of Waltham Forest became responsible for its preservation. Small as it is, it has some very interesting and rare flora and no doubt due to its isolation for so long a range of wildlife not often found in such an urban setting.

This information was acquired through pamphlets kindly loaned to the Friends of Ainslie and Larks Woods by Mary Dunhill.