Medieval or post-medieval fishponds at The Warren, Epping Forest (EHER 81445)

A row of three possible medieval or post-medieval fishponds is visible as earthworks on 2023 0.25m Lidar data (commissioned by City of London Corporation). The ponds were mapped as part of the 2024-2025 Epping Forest Aerial and Investigation Project carried out by Historic England.

2024-2025. Epping Forest Aerial Investigation and Mapping Project. A row of three possible medieval or post-medieval fishponds is visible as earthworks on 2023 0.25m Lidar data (commissioned by City of London Corporation). The ponds were created through exploiting the natural topography by constructing three dams across a shallow valley as well as steepening and augmenting of some of the valley slopes. They are sourced by a springhead located at the south side of the row of ponds and would have drained in a northerly direction to the east of the current site of Copped Hall. The middle dam of the three has more recently been utilised as a bridging point for a later ride/routeway. Copped Hall was obtained by Waltham Abbey during the 14th century and was held by the Abbey until shortly before the dissolution, exchanged with the crown in an attempt to prevent its dissolution. These ponds possibly relate to this period under the ownership of Waltham Abbey. The ponds are now heavily wooded, with much of the woodland thought to have been planted during the late 18th or early 19th century. The ponds were mapped as part of the 2024-2025 Epping Forest Aerial and Investigation Project carried out by Historic England. <1> <2> <3> <4>