Bedfords Park
[5] Bedfords Park is situated on a south-facing slope, the top of which is 110 metres above sea level and affords views over east London and across the River Thames to Kent.The highest part of the park is on a ridge capped by a patch of Chalky Boulder Clay[6] and it is this that allows the Round Pond to retain water.[7] In 1452 Thomas Cooke (who was to become Lord Mayor of London 10 years later) took possession of the manor of Bedfords, having already acquired the 'manor or messuage' of Earls,[8] and held these as part of the Gidea Hall estate.At this point the property again changed hands several times and was even listed in the Chelmsford Chronicle on 21 June 1867 (on page 4): It was purchased 3 years later from the mortgagee of the previous owner by Henry R. Stone in 1870.[10] During World War II Bedfords House was used by the Auxiliary Fire Service[12] and afterwards was used as the council archive but was gradually allowed to fall into disrepair until it was demolished in 1959.Today the route of the public lane closed around 1777 can still be traced along the entrance drive, past the old stable block (the only part of the house to survive),[8] and then down the slope to the east of the visitor centre, the whole being characterised by the avenue of mature Horse Chestnut trees.
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