Waltham Abbey Scout Group still occupies the same land, as it has done since the very early 1900's. In those days "The Scout Association" (who actually own the land) also owned the land which occupies the council car park. Over a hundred years ago, the scout hut was a small wooden shed like building, which took up a small southern portion of the present car park.

Towards the end of the 1980's, a request was made by the town council, to build a car park on the land, and in exchange a brand new, purpose built Scout Hall, would be built on the remaining land.

Although the land which Elphwood Hall sits on, including the woods, is owned by the Scout Association, Elphwood Hall is actually owned by Waltham Abbey Scout Group, and maintained (including the grounds) by a committee known as "The Group Executive". Elphwood Hall does not receive funding from the land owners.

Included into the contract regarding the new build was a "Right of Access" to Elphwood Hall.

"Elphwood" supposedly got its name, from a small pink elephant found in the grounds whilst building the new scout hut. The name "Elphwood" was combined from an Elephant (Elph), and the small area of trees (wood) to the west of the building, where a small pink elephant was supposedly found.

Waltham Abbey Scout Group has had two previous names. The original name was recorded as the First(1st) Waltham Abbey Scout Group around 1907, then it was believed to move to a temporary building [year unknown], called The Victoria Hall and named the second (2nd) Waltham Abbey Scout Group, whilst our present hall was being built. Victoria Hall still stands to the far east of the car park. It is for sale and has been in a state of dilapidation and unsafe. our new scout hall was finished in 1990 and the group was renamed to the Third (3rd) Waltham Abbey Scout Group, which it still holds today.

Elphwood has extensive grounds that gives our young people the opportunity to take part in an vast line-up of fun games, adventurous activity, back to basis challenges skills.

Our grassed area is spacious so our young people can runabout, exercise and burn off energy in a safe environment.

Elphwood has its own mini forest, which is ideal for back to basics skills like Bivouac building (shelters) and building fires to cook meals backwoods (without using cooking utensils etc).

Our trees help us to achieve adventurous challenges like pioneering projects (poles held together using rope, knots and lashings). Aerial Runways and Off the ground rope courses, using the trees as supports.

Young people are so lucky to have Elphwood !