CATACOMB FIND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 293, 8 December 1923, Page 19

CATACOMB FIND.

FORMER LOVERS WHO VANISHED. A last century Epping Forest love romance and mystery is recalled by tbe discovery at High Beech of a replica of a Roman catacomb in the grounds of a large house at Leppit's Hill. Half a century ago tbe house w_« furnished by a man In anticipation of his marriage, but the lady to whom be was engaged transferred her affection to another. The disappointed lover lived alone for some time in the honse, which stands In about Aye acres of ground. Some years after the lady had married another man she visited the old honse at High Beech, and she and her former lover were seen together in the dining-room. The next day both disappeared and were never traced. The property went into Chancery, and for more than forty years the house—it might almost be called a mansion—remained unoccupied. Ultimately tbe Crown presumed the death of the owner, and sold the property a short time ago to a retired mariner (Mr J. Cross), whose curiosity was aroused by what bad been supposed to be the top ; of a disused well. The stonework visible [reminded him of catacombs he had seen (abroad. ... _. ' „ Excavations have revealed beneath a ' mass of ruins three chambers, a miniature temple, grotto, burial niche, and passages. Roman stone and cement appear to have been used in constructing the cataedmb. | Some of the stone resembles that at waitbam Abbey.