The photo at the top of this page from c1910 shows Jubilee Retreat on Bury Road, Chingford.
It was opened in 1887 in the year of Queen Victoria's Jubilee and gave rise to the name of the Retreat.
Many retreats sprung up around Epping Forest and consisted of big wooden pavilions with the facilities for feeding large numbers of forest visitors.
The important feature was that they were purely on a temperance basis; no alcoholic refreshments were available. Some had extra amenities in the form of coconut shies, roundabouts, swings, helter-skelters and donkey or pony rides.
How the scene looks today
Soon after the outbreak of war in 1939 the Retreat was requisitioned for the use of refugees.
You can follow Gary Stone on Instagram @chingfordhistorical
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