52 . ON THE OLD AND REMARKABLE 



Was found to be at 1 foot from the ground, 27 feet in girth, and 

 at 5 feet up, it measured 17 feet. This tree grows in the "Lime 

 Tree Walk." Dr Walker makes no mention of it. 



The planting of the Spanish chestnut as a memorial tree in 

 many districts seems to have been a custom coeval with its 

 introduction. Whether the practice of the monks in planting 

 the seeds brought or sent home from Eastern pilgrimages induced 

 the lordly barons and feudal knights to follow such an example 

 in introducing this tree around their ancestral dwellings, is now 

 uncertain ; but from the peculiar names given to groups of the 

 Spanish chestnuts planted as memorial trees upon old estates, and 

 from the traditions attaching to these, long in the possession of 

 the present families, we may gather that the Spanish chestnut 

 tree was peculiarly sought after and chosen to be planted, to 

 commemorate family incidents and historical events. We have 

 thus in many places," Adam and Eve,'' the " Three Sisters," the 

 " Three Graces,"— the " Old Laird," the " Seven Sisters," " The 

 Friars' Tree," " The Gospel Tree," &c., &c., whose origins are all 

 identified with particular incidents in the histories of the 

 families on whose estates they now luxuriate, or linger on in 

 waning majesty. As an example, we may recite the history of 

 the famous " Three Sisters," well known throughout the length 

 and breadth of Wales, and we do so the more readily, as we are 

 able from personal inquiry to give the exact measurements of 

 these three magnificent trees at the present day. They stand 

 close to the town of Bachymbyd, in North Wales, midway 

 between Ruthin and Denbigh ; the girth of the largest is, at 1 

 foot from the ground, 36 feet 6 inches ; and at 5 feet, 34 feet 6 

 inches. Having received this information, we anxiously desired 

 further details of these famous " three sisters," and by the kind 

 courtesy of Mr Cornwallis West, of Ruthin Castle, North Wales, 

 the following interesting details regarding these early specimens 

 of Spanish chestnut in this country were obtained. " The Three 

 Sisters " are fine noble trees (25th April 1878), about 70 feet in 

 height, with gigantic branches spreading over a mean area for 80 

 or 90 feet. Some of the branches are decaying, but others look 

 fine and healthy, and bear fruit. Over the front door of the 

 adjoining mansion of Bachymbyd is a square slab, bearing date 

 1666. It appears that three sisters of the name of Salisbury 

 lived at Bachymbyd about that time, the daughters of Sir William 

 Salisbury, and descended from a very ancient Welsh family. One 

 of the sisters married a Sir William Bagot, of whom the present 

 Lord Bagot of Blithfield is a descendant, and before the separa^ 

 tion which this marriage occasioned, the happy trio planted each 

 a " Spanish chestnut sapling," in token of mutual affection and 

 sisterly union, and the result is that these tender " saplings " have 

 now grown into three time-worn trees, of the following circum- 

 ferences, taken at 7 feet from the base of the trunk : — 



