Copped Hall

Copped Hall is a ruined-and-recovering Georgian mansion in Epping Upland, Essex, on the edge of Epping Forest. It is Grade II listed and has been under restoration since 1999. Many drivers see it without knowing what it is: the house is visible from the M25 between junctions 26 and 27.

What is Copped Hall?

The name refers to the standing house built in the mid-18th century. The older Tudor and earlier buildings on the site are usually called Copt Hall or Copthall, and the spelling Copthall appears in many historical records. So the same place may turn up under three names in books and maps.

What is the history of the estate?

The estate belonged to the abbots of Waltham Abbey from 1350. Henry VIII took it over in 1537, after the abbey was dissolved. Almost the entire earlier house was pulled down in 1748, and the present mansion was built around 1753 for Sir John Conyers.

In 1869 the estate was bought by the Wythes family, who had made their fortune in railway building. They extended the property. A fire in 1917 left the house largely gutted, and in 1952 the estate was sold. After that came decades of neglect, and the building became a shell.

How was the house saved?

From 1986 to 1995, local conservation societies resisted several large development proposals for the mansion and its parkland. The Copped Hall Trust, a charity, was founded and bought the mansion and gardens in 1995. The surrounding parkland had already been protected by the Corporation of London in 1992. Sources differ on the exact year the Trust was formed, so treat 1993 as an approximate date.

The purchase was financed with two low-interest loans, repaid within three years by selling six leasehold apartments with covenants. Since then the work has been carried out by a team of more than 100 volunteers, with the aim of restoring the house and gardens for educational, cultural and community use.

Can you visit Copped Hall?

Access is limited. The house and gardens are private and open only on advertised event days. Guided tours have in the past been held on the third Sunday of the month, but arrangements change, so check the Copped Hall Trust website before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Copped Hall? In Epping Upland, Essex, close to Epping Forest and the M25.

Is Copped Hall the same as Copt Hall? Not exactly. Copped Hall is the surviving 18th-century house, while Copt Hall and Copthall are names for the earlier Tudor and older houses.

Who owns Copped Hall? The Copped Hall Trust, a charity that bought the mansion and gardens in 1995 and is restoring them.

Is it open every day? No. It is open only for advertised events and tours.

Why does the house have no roof in old photos? Because of the 1917 fire, which gutted most of the building before the Trust began its restoration.