The Corporation of London have two relics from the Lopping Saga, which I understand will soon be on display in the new Visitors Centre at the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, Chingford, when it opens in 2012.
The photo below is the ‘Willingale Axe’ or more correctly a billhook that was used to Lop the branches in the Epping Forest.
The Essex Field Club in their 1911 AGM state ’[...]Bill-hook which had been used for at least 100 years as a tool in asserting the lopping rights on the Forest at Loughton on the 11th day of November in each year. The hook was formerly owned by Robert Higgins, of Baldwin’s Hill, Loughton, uncle to Thomas Willingale; later it came into the possession of Thomas Willingale, and from him descended to Samuel Willingale, who had now presented it to the Club’.
Thomas Willingale Billhook
For some reason I did not take a photo of the other relic, a Loppers Axe, which was formerly owned by John Willingale, Thomas Senior’s son.
