Although Ghost Services is now happily ensconced in Harlow, we never forget our Loughtonian roots. There’s been a settlement in that area since before the Romans arrived – and we are proud to be providing the town’s business community with IT services today in the 21st century.
We found out some interesting snippets about Loughton while we were there…
- The 19th-century pastoral poet John Clare spent time here –being inspired by the rural setting and recuperating from a bout of mental illness at Dr Matthew Allen’s private asylum. His story is told in “Four Forest Years,” by Loughton author and biographer Pete Relph.
- The first settlers in the area created an encampment in the forest 2,500 years ago. Their settlement is now known as Ambresbury Banks Fort.
- Lady Mary Wroth of Loughton Hall was a leading light on the Jacobean literary scene – in 1621 she published The Countesse of Mountgomeries Urania, the first authenticated full-length novel by an Englishwoman.
- Loughton was a popular day-trip and mini-break venue for Cockneys in the Victorian times. The locals didn’t always appreciate the visitors, especially when they earned the town the nickname “Lousy Loughton.” This was on account of the lice and fleas the holidaying East Enders brought with them – streets and parts of the forest would be sluiced with disinfectant to deal with the
- East 15 drama school has a campus in Loughton – alumni include Alison Steadman, Marc Warren, Blake Harrison and Damon Albarn.