Plant a Tree for the Jubilee

Planting trees to celebrate the Silver Jubilee in 1977

Reference: CPC19/18/3

Margaret Dickinson, Lord of the Manor of Bisham Abbey, at the planting of the Jubilee Oak as part of the Bisham Jubilee Celebrations in 1977.

The Lonesome Tree

Reference: D/EP7/192/13

‘The Lonesome Tree’ in Abingdon, pictured here with houses built up around it in 1911. This tree was believed by locals to have been the elm under which St Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, c.1174-1240, saw a vision as a child.

In 1979, more than 700 years later, it was felled after succumbing to Dutch Elm Disease. Local residents mourned the loss of their great tree, holding a wake at which a special ode was recited.

Waltham St Lawrence yews

Reference: D/P141/6/4

Two yew trees were planted in the churchyard at Waltham St Lawrence in the years 1655 and 1665, one on the right side and one on the left. A reference in the parish register from 1655 states ‘the yewe tree at the churchyard gate on the right hand as one goeth into the churchyard … was planted by Thos. Wilkinson vicar of Waltham in February 1655’.

This document records the girth of these trees as measured in 1783 and 1813.

Waltham St Lawrence yews

Reference: Reference: D/P141acc10925.1

Two yew trees were planted in the churchyard at Waltham St Lawrence in the years 1655 and 1665, one on the right side and one on the left. A reference in the parish register from 1655 states ‘the yewe tree at the churchyard gate on the right hand as one goeth into the churchyard … was planted by Thos. Wilkinson vicar of Waltham in February 1655’.

This photograph shows the Waltham St Lawrence tree that was planted in 1655 as it stands today, now with a girth of around 14 feet.

(Photograph by Stuart Scott and displayed with their kind permission)

Trees of Large Estates

Reference: D/EZ77/3/1

Until the last century much of the land in Berkshire was held by private estates and as such included most of the woods and forests of the county (other than Crown woodland).

In 1669 a survey was carried out of the land of the manor of Chamberhouse in the parish of Thatcham. This survey was recorded in the form of small coloured maps which were stitched into a book in 1691. One of the key aspects of this survey was to record the number and types of trees on the estate. This page of the book shows the old manor house, surrounded by fields and woodlands. The text describes how the number and kind of timber trees are recorded. Black ink indicates oak trees, red indicates ash trees and green indicates elm trees.

The Planting of an Estate

Reference: D/EWAL/E8

The Bearwood Estate in Sindlesham was originally purchased from the Crown by John Walter II, founder of The Times, in 1816. He built a small villa on the estate and records show that he was also doing extensive work to the grounds. In 1816 he ordered the planting of a plantation of hard and soft wood, and this was followed in 1822 by the planting of hundreds of fruit trees and bushes in the gardens of the house.

These letters list the numbers and varieties of peach, nectarine, plum, cherry, pear, apple, and apricot trees to be planted. In addition to these, 6000 thorns, 3000 hollies,1000 sweet briers and 1000 ash were planted as well as hundreds of roses, honeysuckle and other plants.

The estate was sold in 1919 and became the Royal Merchant Navy School.