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THE OAK TREE IN ESSEX. 



able oak in the parish of Rivenhall is known as " King Stephen's 

 Oak." Local tradition says that King Stephen found a hiding place 



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Fig 20. — Oak in Rivenhall Park. 



in this tree, also that the oak is mentioned in Domesday Book. 

 However, as previously stated, I cannot find that any individual tree 

 is recorded in that careful survey. Although small, the circumference 



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Fig. 21. — King Stephen s Oak, Rivenhall. 



of the trunk being only sixteen feet, it is a noteworthy tree, for 

 nothing remains of the trunk but a mere shell, apparently a few 

 inches thick, and this so much broken away that it can be seen 

 through. Nevertheless, the tree comes out into full leaf every year. 

 Stisted Oak. — At the Lower Lodge at Stisted Hall there is a 



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