Langfords/Potteles

A Memory of Buckhurst Hill.

I wonder if you can help? I'm trying to discover more about my history and know that my great grandparents were once the owners of the royal hunting lodge - Langfords (I believe also known as Potelles) - which was in Buckhurst Hill. As I understand it, the only memory of this is Langfords Road, which sits on the land originally occupied by the house and its grounds. My grandad was Richard Henry Boyd who grew up in Langfords, which fell into disrepair. Unfortunately I believe that English Heritage (or similar organisation) had only enough money to fund one house, and sadly for my grandad, the Lodge in Chingford was funded, which meant that Langfords had to be knocked down and new homes built in its place. I have been told that Potteles Palace was built on the site previously to Langfords, but some of my research seems to indicate that this was one and the same building

I have tried for some time to find out more, and in fact if this information is correct, and wonder if you are able to shed anymore light on it? My mother, Angela Boyd, their granddaughter) used to live at 21 Kings Avenue, and as a child played there with her brothers and sisters (until it was knocked down in 1959). I would love for her and the rest of the family to know more about their history.

Did anyone know the Boyd family or know anything else about the house?


Added 06 April 2017

#381850

Comments & Feedback

I remember Langford. As a schoolboy I was part of a small group of would-be urban explorers who trespassed on the property believing it to be unoccupied. The next day at school the incident was raised because we had supposedly terrorised the occupants. That would have been around 1955. With hindsight I blame Enid Blyton - the Famous Five did similar things and never got into any trouble.
Hi Brian

That's hilarious. I told my mum and she said she does remember an incident (not sure if it's the same one) where the police were at the house when she went to visit her gran!

Mum said her and her sister did a similar thing at Langfords and thought hey had found a secret garden, but turned out they were playing on the swings in their neighbours garden.

Thanks so much for sharing your memory. I love to hear about it and wish so much I could have seen it first hand. Jacqui x

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