The adventurous life of Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, was powerfully portrayed in film by the late Irish Actor, Peter O’ Toole.

Having died this month aged 81, O’Toole’s leading role in the 1962 film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ cemented his place in the history of cinema.

In 2004, the film, which explores the pioneering role of T.E. Lawrence in Arabia during the First World War, was voted ‘best epic’ by readers of Total Film magazine.

Lawrence volunteered to use his knowledge and expertise of the Middle East to help the war effort in the region, and became famous for fighting alongside bands of insurgents as part of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Although Lawrence was a very well travelled man, one of his favourite locations was a local beauty spot.

In 1919, he bought several acres of land at the highest point in Chingford, at Pole Hill.

Lawrence became close friends with a man named Vyvyan Richards when they were both undergraduate’s at Jesus College in Oxford.

Richards actually went on to teach history at Bancroft's School in Woodford Green.

Seven years before Lawrence purchased the land, Vyvyan had established himself on the hill in a small hut.

The pair spent time camping in the forest at Pole Hill with Scouts and cadets, for almost ten years.

But during the dry summer of 1921, the grass on Pole Hill was set alight, and the hut was destroyed along with all of its contents. 

With the help of young volunteers, Vyvyen built a ‘cloister’, garden and diving pool, and at one time Lawrence and Vyvyen were said to have aimed to print Lawrence’s autobiography, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, at the location.

In 1924, Lawrence bought a cottage in Dorset, which would become his home for the remainder of his life.

Two years earlier, Vyvyen had left Bancroft’s and Pole Hill to live in South Wales.

The land was donated to the Conservators of Epping Forest in 1930, and the ‘cloister’ building was occupied by the Highams Park’s 1st Rover Scout Crew.

Eventually the building was left vacant and became susceptible to vandalism.

It was at this point sometime in the 1930s that it was removed from Pole Hill and placed in the care of the City of London Conservators in The Warren, Loughton. 

Dr Chris Pond, chairman of the Loughton and District Historical Society, says the cloister building “is one of the hidden gems of Essex history.”

Paul Thompson of City of London Corporation is working with a biographer of Lawrence on a detailed history of the ‘cloister’ building.

“The building was moved to The Warren out of concern that it might be the subject of arson. 

“While the location is not ideal, the building is well maintained and currently serves as a tool store for the Epping Forest Centenary Trust, a use I am confident that Lawrence would have supported.

“There are few buildings associated with T E Lawrence's life, and as we begin 2014 and the WW1 commemorations, the City of London is undertaking a study to find a more suitable location and public access for a building that reflects Lawrence's love of Epping Forest.”

It currently sits on a piece of land where the Epping Forest Conservators fill up their tractors with diesel.