Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897 edition. Excerpt:... CHAPTER XII Notes, historical, etc., on some of the more remarkable trees in Great Britain and Ireland. I Would like to preface the 'Notes' by calling attention to the serious extent of damage which many old trees suffer for want of proper protection. Children are allowed to climb over the branches, inflicting much injury. Sometimes one sees this obviated by a surrounding railing, but in far too many instances no protection is given. Hollow trees are now and again found filled with decayed leaves and rotten wood into which it occasionally happens that a match is thrown and the tree burned. In other instances the hollow is used for the storage of coals and for kindred purposes. Large branches are' often broken away for want of timely support. The 'National Trust Society, ' which has done such splendid work in preserving monuments of antiquity, would do well to cast a protecting glance over these veterans. The following notes relate to some previous measurements or historical record of the trees. They contain also a notice of several remarkable trees, the dimensions of which are not sufficiently great to be included in the foregoing list: -- Ankerwyke, near Staines, on the banks of the Thames, about three miles to the south of Colnbrook, has a yew of great size. Lysons1 says that the manor belonged to the priory of Ankerwyke, which was founded for Benedictine nuns in the reign of Henry n. The conventual buildings are described, in the report of the Commissioners in the time of Henry V111., as wholly ruinous. Soon after the dissolution, a mansion was built on the site either by Lord Windsor, to whom the estate had been granted, or by Sir Thomas Smith. Near the house is a large yew-tree, which, in 1806, at 6 feet from the ground, measured 30.