Epinga Forest

Epinga Forest is a forest in Essex, England. During the Middle Ages, Epinga Forest was a hub for criminals and bandits to prey on travelers from Lunden to the south of the city.^[1]

History

In 875, the Viking shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan traveled to Epinga Forest to find the ealdorman Birstan, who was out hunting for a feast. However, Eivor arrived to find Birstan's hunting party ravaged. Looking for Birstan, Eivor found him further into the forest and came to his aid when he was fighting off multiple bears. Killing the bears together, Eivor quickly introduced herself to Birstan and then both started to ride back to Colchester to deal with the thegns in his home.^[2]