A brief history of Whipps Cross Hospital

by Alan Simpson

Appendix B

EXTRACT from the provisional list of buildings of architectural or historic interest for consideration in connection with the provisions of Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947.

Schedule dated April, 1953.

Map No.11. Grade II. Forest House

Late C.17, with later alterations, possibly including the addition of the top floor. Three storeys, modern cement finish, colour washed, eleven sash windows in cased frames, band over 1st floor. Capped parapet. Tetrastyle Doric porch with cornice and blocking course, with two round headed doorways, and central sash window. Left-hand side with C.19 brick additions, right-hand return with six similar windows, two being large round headed staircase windows.  Rear elevation of stock brick, various alterations and additions.

Interior late C.17 panelling and black and white marble floor to entrance hall, right-hand front room with Adam period decoration – segmental coffered ceiling, classical plaque ornament, fireplace, dado etc. Room at left-hand end of house, now partly a corridor, with C.16–C.17 panelling, painted. Staircase hall with fine well staircase on large scale with solid strings handrails and newels, barley sugar balusters, bolection moulded panelling up to ceiling of 1st floor. The ceiling, painted with Classical subjects and the initials of Samuel Bosanquet, fell down during the war. First floor has a number of panelled or half panelled rooms of late C.17 date, one at least with bolection moulded fireplace surrounds, one with shorn corner fireplace with built up top (cf. Hampton Court Palace) and doors with contemporary escutcheons, knobs and locks.

History. The house is of late seventeenth century date, and is generally said to have been built by Charles Goring, Earl of Norwich. In the eighteenth century it became the home of the Bosanquet family and Mary Fletcher (née Bosanquet) one of John Wesley's early preachers was born here 1.9.1739. (Plaque). Sir Gilbert Heathcoate (1651?–1733) (D.N.B.) the Lord Mayor who was thrown from his horse on Lord Mayor's Show day, lived here. For other history and associations see Temple "History of Forest House, Leyton”, etc.

Map No. 12. Grade II. Former Stable Block to Forest House

The former stable block is late C.17 or early C.18. Two storeys, brown brick with red dressings, and red angle quoins to the projecting centre. Rubber brick band. Pediment with wood modillioned cornice, plain eaves elsewhere. Two-three-two casement windows, one-three-one to ground floor, central and ends with doors and transom lights. Wooden staircase across front. Hipped old tile roof.

Back to this part of the main text :

“Despite being a listed building, the once fine mansion was demolished in 1964.”

Leyton & Leytonstone

Historical Society