The Royal Oak: storm damage

Subject: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 03:57 AM

The historic oak tree at Boscobel House in England has been badly damaged in Sunday night's storms. It's not known yet whether the remains will survive.

This is the the tree where King Charles II hid from the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War, shortly before escaping to Bentley Hall (where I lived around the corner from for many years, incidentally). It's commemorated all over the country by the pub name, The Royal Oak.

Preparations were under way for the 350th anniversary which is due soon (I can't remember when, to my shame!). They have just one sapling from the old tree, which might have to serve instead.

Steve

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 05:27 AM

Look here for a bit more historical info

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: kendall
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 08:13 AM

Is anyone watching the series A History of Britain? Very interesting.

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Nov 00 - 06:52 PM

The series is interesting, but the other - hey , it might not even be that tree, understand what I'm saying??

LTS

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 02:03 AM

Steve, that is so sad. I love big old trees. We don't have many of them out here in Wyoming, only cottonwoods (I love thme, too), but in New England they have some old beauties. I was amazed when Hurricane Bob hit several years ago. We were in Mystic and the destruction to trees, big and small was just incredible. Always sad to see that action of Nature, laying the old ones low, sending them back into the earth. Puir auld thing, I hope they have some sort of farewell ceremony for it.

kat

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Amergin
Date: 02 Nov 00 - 05:09 AM

Then there was that time many years ago when Hurricane Kat hit Wyoming....

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 05:00 AM

The 'Royal Oak' is only a shoot of the original tree, it isn't that old, and it may not even be the right tree. Now the yew tree in Tolpuddle, Dorset, under which the martyrs met, is the actual tree, and they formed the first trade union, from which all workers rights began. That is a venerable tree....

LTS

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:18 AM

Ah, the Combinations Act, which is why to this day British workmen tuck their vests into their underpants!

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 06:27 AM

Keep us posted on what happens, Steve. I hope, if it does become necessary to fell it that the authorities will have the sense to commission a local furniture maker to build a commemmorative piece out of the timber.

Murray

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:28 AM

Most of it has already come down, Murray. I believe the land belongs to English Heritage, which is sort of a Natioanal trust for ruins, except Boscobel House isn't a ruin. But anyway, if they haven't thought of the idea themselves, there are lots of people who will ask them, I'm sure. It really is an ill wind that blows nobody any good!

Steve

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 04:10 AM

English Heritage will do anything they can to keep the tree intact. I've seen the picture and it looks like a break at the first junction. 2/3 rds of the tree has broken off, but the trunk and the smaller of the branches remains intact. Imagine it like a capital Y, where one arm is broken off, and the narrower arm remains. They may have to prop it to stop it overbalancing, and they will have to seal the tear to stop it bleeding sap to death, but they are pretty good at forestry these days.

LTS

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Max Tone
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 04:31 PM

Hey, folks,
You had me worried there for a minute; just an old symbol of English royalty. I'm glad it wasn't Edinburgh's 'Oak, symbol of subversive anti-establishment FOLK MUSIC.

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Nov 00 - 07:33 PM

And, it's never been the same since, Amergin!**BG**

That yew tree sounds really venerable, LtS!

I forgot to mention that Connecticut has an old oak tree in the capitol of Hartford. They call it the Charter Oak, because they hid the state charter in it at one point during the Revolutionary War, if I remember it correctly. It is a beautiful old tree and they take great care of it. I am pretty sure it is featured on the new quarter cent peices which are being issue, one design for each state. Now, of course, everything around there, shopping malls, etc. are named "Charter Oak" this and that.

Woodman spare that tree!

kat

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 09:43 AM

Latest news:

Out on a limb to save tree Tree surgeons have ensured that the storm-damaged Royal Oak at Boscobel House, near Tong, survives for at least another 50 years.
The tree, considered one of the most important in Britain, was split as gales of nearly 70mph battered the region last week.
English Heritage described the damage as "a disaster" but steps were taken yesterday to try to repair the 350-year-old oak which is a direct descendant of the tree which sheltered King Charles II as he escaped from Roundhead troops.

Wolverhampton Tree Service reduced the weight of the tree by cutting back some of the dangerous limbs, but tried to retain as many as possible.
Acorns are being planted so that more descendants of the Royal Oak grow in the future, and a new fence is being erected to protect it.
"The tree was split down the middle and lost 50 per cent of its crown," said Bob Smith, of Wolverhampton Tree Service.
"The part of the tree left has got an infection so we have taken off as much as we can and the situation will be monitored.
"The tree will survive but it is a case of how long. I'm sure it will survive another 50 years but the acorns are being planted so the blood line will continue."

The repair work comes as a relief to English Heritage which is planning a large-scale event for next year's 350th anniversary of the Battle of Worcester.

Wolverhampton Express & Star

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Peg
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:03 PM

good news! Thank you for this update.

In the winter of 1993 I was staying in Dorchester-on-Thames and saw a huge beech tree (probably at least 300 years old) atop a hill lose a major portion of its lowest limb in a storm. I did survive but its grandeur was lessened.

peg

who is still mourning the trees lost at Versailles last year...

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Amos
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 01:18 PM

Well, Happy Birthday to Yew!!!

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 06:38 PM

here is the Martyr's tree....

nice place to sit

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 07:28 PM

Hey, great link! If you go to the page and then click on Dorchester at the side, you can see the Keep where I used to work!! The church is St Peters, where I sang in the choir and was married.

If you go to the Abbotsbury page, then you can see my aunty's house is in the last picture on the top row....

Off for a spot of homesickness now.... Going back in a few weeks though - car vandals allowing....

LTS

Subject: RE: The Royal Oak: storm damage
From: Greyeyes
Date: 10 Nov 00 - 07:55 PM

LTS, My Grandparents lived in Abbotsbury. They ran a small antique shop called "The Salt Box" Late 60s through early 80s.