The land on which the present Theydon Grove estate now stands has on a long history and it is hoped that the following account of that history will provide an interesting insight. The account starts in 1518 and finishes when the estate was completed in 1965. If anyone has any more information which can be added to this account it would be gratefully received.

In 1518 John Baker is recorded as being the owner of the estate called Stonards in Theydon Garnon. Among his various works of improvement for the local area he paid for repairing the street between Harlow and Epping Street to induce London travellers to travel through Epping rather than using the old route through Abridge.

In 1959 John Baker left Stonehurst Farm and �Rydden Grove� to Epping to be applied to acts of charity and the use of the church with the latter becoming Theydon Grove. A map of 1777 shows the town of Epping and the road now called Stonards Hill with an area of land area called Mill Hill situated close by. The Mill Mound was also still noted.

On 2nd August 1778 it was agreed that the road opposite the Theydon Grove pond was to be widened by at least 4 feet, after complaints that it was too narrow. At a following meeting of the Turnpike Trust it was decided that the road was also to be raised. Butler�s Weir, a large pond was enclosed in the mid 19th century when the fencing for the Grove Estate was carried forward. Benjamin Winstone thinks that it must have been a large expanse of water as it gave the name to the hill leading onto the plain. In a title deed of Spriggs Oak opposite, it is described as situated on Butler�s Weir Hill. Posts and rails were then placed opposite Butler�s Weir to prevent carriages being overturned into It

Theydon Grove, the house�s name reminding us that the land on which Theydon Grove now stands used to be the parish of Theydon Garnon, stood on the site up to 1965 and is listed in the 1848 directory for Epping as The Grove (Theydon) and occupied by John Claremont Whiteman Esq. An 1897 map shows Theydon Grove house sited approximately where 46 and 48 together with the pond where it is now It was a magnificent house, with a drive sweeping up to it through park land planted with numerous species of trees. A sales catalogue of that time boasts of a well lit massive oak staircase which led up to the first floor with six principle bedrooms. There were three other bedrooms as well as a day and night nursery.

Downstairs a billiard room, dining room, library, gentleman�s room, conservatory and two drawing rooms with domestic quarters completing the accommodation. There were two prolific kitchen gardens as well as two other vegetable and fruit gardens. There was also a bailiff�s cottage and dairy, adequate stabling and coach houses and two further freehold cottages. These were on the other side of the railway track, each with three bedrooms, a sitting room. and a kitchen.

On John�s death, Theydon Grove was left to Elizabeth Horsley Whiteman, founder of the new St John�s, and then by 1960 it was owned by Mr H A Silley of Green and Silley Weir Ltd. He was tragically killed in an air accident whilst returning from the Isle of Wight and the property was sold.