Ambresbury Banks/Loughton Camp

[Lee]

In the woods of epping forest lie ambresbury banks an iron age hill fort. Now all that can be seen are the steep banks which remain from the original earthworks. Further south near the town of loughton lies loughton camp which is a similar site based on top of a hill deep in th eforest. Apparently this is where queen boudica rested before fighting he last battle near st albans and it is meant to be here wher she poisoned her daughters. Myself and two friends have been there at night once and the wind really began to blow, making th etrees creek and whistle as the wind rushed through them. The atmosphere was really edgy and we retreated through th ewoods back to the car almost immediately. I wonder if anyone has investigated here or knows anything more about the sites. Good place for investigation i think.

[Lauraakafoxy]

Well i certainly would like to - maybe thats something we should think about arranging.
Yes the main problem with Epping Forest is the size of it although i would like to do it or camp there one night, just hope we dont get lost !!!
Unlike Yvette and the team we dont have everyone watching us to call the ranger if we get lost !! lol

[Lee]

Ive been to loughton camp before and know the location. It would be possible to camp there if set up late as many walkers pass thru here during the day. I would like to hear if anyone knows what kind of activity takes place there and how recent it was.

[heofspirit]

I was down by the brook just after MHaunted did their bit in the forest.

There's alot of activity during the day let alone after dark.

Not sure what the local ranger would make of camping there though.

Turpin reputedly had a cave on the edge of the camp, although there is another rumoured location of a cave on the other side of High Beech itself.

[geoff]

hello there, i wasnt sure whether to even enter this post as it all seemed too weird what happened last night at loughton camp. My friend and I were chilling up at the beginnings of the foot of the hill for a while before dusk and spent an hour undisturbed by humans, we were a fair way into the forest and heard nothing but animals. As it got dark we decided to leave, but i had to take a leak first so as i was off doing my thing we both heard a deepish drum banging in a slow rythm from somewhere in the woods. I kinda joked about it but we were both a bit freaked, it was getting pretty dark and all. The most odd thing though was the deep groaning we heard as we were walking briskly out of the woods, it seemed very lo-fi and I asked my mate to stop and listen but he was too scared, I wasnt even up there investigating and i was wondering if anyone knows of other experiences there cos i'd like to know if similar things have been witnessed. The drumming was totally bizarre and we heard or saw no one or any unnatural noises other than the two i just described. Weird. I'd like to investigate properly one day i think it'd be pretty interesting!

[Mayanaka]

Hi all..
I live in Epping, and as a kid used to walk for miles through the forest. I have been to Amesbury Banks although I didn't know the history of it at the time. It's a great place to go to just for a walk, but ...I have to say you do feel like you're being watched. Don't think me daft or anything, but you get a strange feeling of ......something definately being there. I hope it's not just because all Eastenders dead bodies end up in epping forest..LOL.
Mayanaka.

[irishbanshee]

I was at High Beach on Thursday and was chatting to the staff of the Kings Head about Dick Turpin. I wanted to walk toward Loughton Camp, but my hubby wanted to walk westwards It was so hot and we ended up walking back up those steep hills!! I am definitley going back this autumn, which will be much more atmospheric. I am going to go to Loughton Camp this time

I know what you mean about east enders in the woods! I have heard of people being kidnapped, chucked in a boot and driven to the forest just to scare them. Then they are left there in the middle of the night YIKES!!!!!!

[irishbanshee]

If you do ever go there, go to Avey Lane and if you are travelling west you will see a little turning just before Pynest Green Lane. This lane is not on any maps and is known as Hangman's Hill. Drive your car onto the slight hill from Avey Lane, put car in neutral and take your foot off the brake - your car will roll uphill and always comes to a dead stop at a tall tree. Spirit levels show a definite gradient and a ball will roll downhill onto Avey Lane, but your car will roll uphill!!

I did this 3 times on Thursday - freaked me out

[Chris]

Hi there.

A newbie here, currently in the North of England but I grew up in the Loughton area, playing wild and fishing in Epping Forest.

Loughton Camp is DEFINITELY a haunted location with an atmosphere which changes suddenly, a trukly creepy place.

On one occasion, during the day, a friend and myself were at the camp, it was overcast and very little wind around. We were pelted (as though a strong wind was in force) with Beech nuts. We moved and got the same treatment - then realisation dawned we stood under OAK trees..I kept a beech nut from my Parka's hood (it was in the 70's) for years afterwards.

The lost Pond is nearby. This is a circular pond at the top of a hil in the forest which BROODS, and has the local reputation for being a suicide spot. One night fishing, my frend and myself heard three thumps from behind us - as though something very large and heavy had hopped towards us - out of the forest and onto the gravel. Grabbing any weapon we took the torches and investigated. Nothing there at all. Need I say that we packed up sharpish and got out of there.

anyway enough from me for now.


regards

Chris

[mazda502001]

Hi Chris,
Welcome to the forum. Sounds a good location to me although to be honest I've never heard of it. Were there a lot of beech trees in the area?
I'm sure you will enjoy it here - everyone is very friendly.

Barbra

[Star]

Hi Chris welcome to Essex Paranormal.

[Chris]

Hi again and thanks for the welcomes.


Barbara...No not a lot of Beeches there, Oak and Holly in the main, although as I say this was in the 1970's when I was still at Lucton Boys School in Loughton. (Cor don't time fly past mister) and I can't vouch for the tree mix now.

Loughton Camp is a wonderfully atmospheric place, briefly excavated by Wheeler in the 1950's ???but he only really had a trial dig with little to show for the effort.

I read a book years ago by a former forest warder who stated that a ghostly druid procession was supposed to pass through this earthwork - hence the purpose of my visit there.

a Website with images that I have found on the place is :

www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/2140

As I said a great place but rather remote and I wouldn't advise anyone to go there on their own. Also - at night it is very easy to get turned around and lost.


Chris

[annietis]

This sounds fascinating I think we should really try and set something up!!!

[Chris]

Hi again

If you investigate at Loughton Camp

Please take care and don't go on your own under any circumstances. Not just from the accident in the field perspective, but its a long way in the forest and there are wierdo's about.

And you really must see the Lost pond. At the top of a hill, the water looks black and often (remembering here from years back), when the wind blew the surface hardly rippled. There is a desolate almost despairing atmosphere up there. Always gave me the frights when I was night fishing there as a 14 year old.

would love to join in on any investigations there, but its a long, long way south - 4-5 hours on the Triumph.


Chris