EPPING Forest is one of the few remaining slivers of the ancient woodland that once covered England.

It is thought to date back 10,000 years to the end of the last ice age, and now occupies around 6,000 acres of land on a ridge between the rivers Lea and Roding.

Although precise information is no longer available, scholars believe it was given Royal Forest status in the 12th century, meaning that while commoners had grazing rights, only the royals could hunt there.

In the 1500s it had been a favourite hunting ground for Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and was at least ten times its current size.

The Epping Forest Act was passed in 1878 as a reaction to landowners enclosing the forest, effectively removing tracts of land from public use.

What remained was transferred to the control of the Corporation of London to be maintained as an open space for the recreation and enjoyment of the people. Four years later, on Saturday, May 6, Queen Victoria thrilled the locals with a personal appearance to dedicate the forest to them and officially open the new park.

Accounts of the "Great Occasion" describe a classic of twee 19th century pageantry. It was of course a beautiful sunny spring afternoon.

Local schoolchildren, doubtless scrubbed raw that morning, turned out in matching blue sashes, blue rosettes, and each holding a wand with a small bouquet attached.

Joining the rest of the villagers, they arranged themselves around decorated farm carts facing Chingford station, and eagerly anticipated the royal arrival.

When the Queen's train pulled in, a band began playing the national anthem and a 21-gun salute thundered overhead.

The platform's pillars were adorned with clematis and roses, and a red carpet led the way through the station into the forecourt, which was piled up with thousands more flowers and canopied with palm leaves.

Topping off the whole spectacle was a triumphal arch, built across the front of the station, reading: "The Forest Welcomes the Queen."

Like Victoria the arch held firm, although in an increasingly sorry state, until 1901.

First in the Queen's entourage was the first appointed Forest Ranger, the Duke of Connaught, after whom Connaught Water and Rangers Road are named.

The people of Chingford were represented by the Rector and churchwardens, and little Minnie Stone, the youngest daughter of the master and mistress of the local schools, who presented her with a bouquet inscribed with the greeting, "Welcome as the flowers in May".

To the blare of several military bands, crowds waved flags for Victoria along the entire route from Chingford to High Beach. Once she had passed, they stayed put and waited for the dedication ceremony to run its course, before waving her back to the station. Some 1,500 police officers were diverted to maintain order, but the event passed without incident.

Back in Windsor Castle that evening, Victoria wrote: "Volunteers and troops were out, and everything extremely well arranged. A great stand, full of people, and a very pretty arch had been erected. The sight was very brilliant."

She described the park as "fine and picturesque", and appeared moved by the rapturous reception Chingford had given her: "The enthusiasm was very great, and many quite poor people were out.

"The park has been given to the poor of the East End, as a sort of recreational ground. Nothing but loyal expressions and kind faces did I hear and see; it was most gratifying."