Since creating my two local walks (in Walthamstow and in Chingford) as part of the Appetite Festival (on until the end of June) I have become much more focused on local events hence the recent flurry of locally based blog posts.

Last Thursday I attended one in a series of events held at The View the new visitor centre in Ranger’s Road, Chingford, right next door to Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge.

The View, Chingford

The View is an amazing building. The former coach houses attached to The Royal Forest Hotel have been utilised in the design giving it both a modern and historical feel. The View is well worth visiting in its own right or as part of a visit to the Hunting Lodge next door and contains exhibitions about the history of Epping Forest and currently (until 30th June) has a fascinating exhibition about Queen Victoria’s visit to Chingford and the Forest on 6th May 1882 giving the Forest to her people (although this had already been declared by the Epping Forest Act 4 years previously).

Last week’s event at The View was “Music for a Summer Evening” with the Erato Consort singing 16th Century songs some of which were purportedly written by Henry VIII so very appropriate for the venue. The concert took place mostly in the courtyard of The View where we watched in our woollies and with blankets on our knees and partly on the first floor of the Hunting Lodge next door. Being as the Hunting Lodge was built by Henry VIII in 1543 as a place to view the hunt from it was amazing to hear music from the Tudor period within its walls.

Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge

I do love listening to choral music especially a capella and this was the perfect setting. I took photos but videos of the event can be found on the Erato Consort’s Facebook page. I think the songs in the videos are my favourites from the evening one of which is a Christmas song and since last week has been on an imaginary loop in my head!

Within Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge

In the courtyard at the back of The View

It was a very enjoyable evening helped by a couple of glasses of wine (one drink being included in the cost of the ticket) and some delicious olives, both supplied by the Woodford Wine Room an independent wine merchant that I need to go and visit.

Both The View and the Hunting Lodge are less than 10 minutes’ walk from Chingford Station (uphill though). I took this photo from the pavement as I walked up the hill. I realise I’m very lucky to have this on my doorstep!

The evening events at The View are monthly with the next one taking place on Wednesday 17th July the subject being forest poet John Clare. I’m going with my Mum!