THE OAK TREE IN ESSEX. 



93 



The Hempstead Oak. — I think that the great Hempstead Oak 

 deserves the foremost place amongst Essex trees. This tree, 

 as will be seen by the list of finest trees in Great Britain in 

 " Loudon's Arboretum," in the circumference of its bole was 

 the third largest tree in England. This o^k might even date 

 back almost to prehistoric times. Under its branches Sixcms 

 have possibly met to transact their business, and in more recent 

 times ■ under this old tree may have often wandered that 

 notorious highwayman, "Dick Turpin " ; he was born in the 

 parish of Hempstead, in a house near the church known as the 



SRU JAtifl't 



The great Oak at HEMSTEAD.Eficx 



Fig. I. — {From " The Gentleman' s Magazuu^" 1802). 



" Crown Inn." In the Church Register, the event is recorded 

 thus: — A.D. 1705, September 21st, Ricardus filius Johannis et Maria 

 , Turpin. Dr. Harvey, the discoverer or demonstrator of the circula- 

 ition of the blood, possibly also may have rested beneath the boughs 

 of this tree. He is buried in the parish church of Hempstead. 



Arthur Young {op. cit. pt. ii. p. 149.) refers to the Hempstead 

 Oaks as follows : — " At Hempstead I viewed two immense oaks, one 

 of which is apparently of very great antiquity, they are unfortunately 

 'both pollards, but the size such as must astonish the spectator." An 

 Essex Directory (1848) states that — "Arthur Young mentions two 

 immense pollarded oaks in a field near Great Dawkins Farm House 



