Strutt's Oaks
Strutt in Sylva Britannica, published in 1822, figured no less than twenty-one oak trees, and as I have seen a good many of these myself, it may be interesting to notice their present condition after a lapse of over eighty years.
Plate 1. The Swilcar lawn Oak in Needwood Forest was then supposed to be about 600 years old, and was 21 feet 4½ inches at 6 feet, having increased 2 feet 4 inches in 54 years. When I saw it in 1904 it was about 25 feet in girth, but nearly dead at the top.
Plate 2. The Beggar’s Oak in Bagot’s Park, fully described above. It measured in 1822, 20 feet; in 1904, 24 feet 1 inch.
Plate 3. The Great Oak at Fredville was in 1822, at 8 feet from the ground, more than 28 feet in girth, and contained above 1400 feet of timber. Now, I am informed by the Rev. S. Sargent, who sends me a photograph, showing that it is in good health, it measures at 3 feet, which seems to be about its smallest girth, 33 feet 6 inches.
Plate 4. The Panshanger Oak, near Earl Cowper’s house in Herts, seemed to Strutt to have scarcely reached its prime, though his plate shows that the spire was already dead. It measured in 1822, 19 feet at a yard from the ground, and was supposed to contain 1000 feet of timber. When I saw it in 1905 the topmost limbs were dead or dying, and there was a large rift in the trunk on one side. The girth was 21 feet 4 inches at 5 feet.
Plate 9. The Salcey Forest Oak was a mere wreck in 1822. I know not if it still exists.
Plate 10. The Abbot’s Oak at Woburn Abbey was never a very large tree, but if it is the same that I saw in 1905 it remains sound.
Plate 11. The Chandos Oak at Michendon House, Southgate, was also not a first- class oak, though a very handsome one. It was then only 60 feet by 15 feet 9 inches. Henry’s measurements in 1904 were 80 feet in height and 18 feet in girth, with a spread of branches 143 feet in diameter.
Plate 12. The oak called Beauty at Fredville, not a first-class tree among great oaks and figured with a dead top, measured only 16 feet in girth.
Plate 17. The Shelton Oak near Shrewsbury I have not seen. It was a hollow tree of great age, 26 feet in girth, in 1822, and I am told that it is now a mere wreck.
Plate 18. The Bounds Park Oak, near Tonbridge Wells, was a tree in perfect health and vigour when figured by Strutt, and measured 69 feet by 17 feet 9 inches at 12 feet. It is still standing, and as I am informed by Mr. H. J. Wood, has not much changed in appearance.
Plate 19. The Moccas Park Oak was much decayed in 1822, when it measured 36 feet in girth; it still survives, but is fast going to ruin.
Plate 20. The Wotton Oak was never a first-class tree, judging from the plate, and I do not know what is its present condition.
Plate 25. The Cowthorpe Oak has been already discussed.
