301 



Oaks and Sweet Chestnuts. One of these Chestnuts measures 15ft. 2in. But the 

 largest Sweet Chestnuts are just inside the garden, near the church. One of 

 these measures 19ft. 6in. and is a very fine tree. 



A little further on, to the left of Easthampton, there is a long, narrow 

 quarry of large size. In the midst of this, on the edge of a steep bank, stands a 

 very fine Oak, with an enormous load of very long branches. In a meadow 

 opposite the farm-house, at Easthampton, stands another fine tree, " the V Oak," 

 perhaps the very finest hereabouts. It is a sound, healthy, well-balanced tree, 

 and grows on an open spot, well adapted for displaying it. It measures 20ft. 6in., 

 and the trunk, after rising to a considerable height, diverges into two priccipal 

 limbs, in the shape of the letter "V." There used to be some very large Oaks 

 near the eastern boundary of the Park, both inside and outside ; but none of any 

 very great size are left, though there are still a great number of trees which, 

 elsewhere but in Herefordshire, would be remarkable. There is one just inside 

 the Park fence about ISft. in girth, another just outside about 16ft., and so on ; 

 trees in full vigour, and covering a wide extent of ground. 



A still larger Oak remains to be mentioned : it is near the turnpike road 

 from Presteign to Ludlow, about half-a-mile from the village, in the hollow 

 meadow. Its upper branches are battered and torn, and seem to have been 

 struck by lightning ; its trunk is hollow ; its limbs are broken ; but it measures 

 26ft. in circumference, and is a most picturesque object j although, from its 

 situation, it attracts no notice unless seen near at hand. 



The Gatlet Oak grows in the Great Orchard, at Gatley Park. It has as 

 yet no great size, but as a fine upright symmetrical tree in healthy luxuriance 

 it is worthy of record, especially since a long price has been refused for it, and 

 it is not, therefore, likely to be destroyed. It measures 13 ft. 4 in. in girth, at 5ft. 

 from the ground ; 12 ft. 4 in., at 13 ft. high ; and it was computtd to have a 

 circumference of about 9 ft. at the height of 39 ft. from the ground. It has a 

 diametric foliage spread of about 72 ft., and at a rough estimate it contains 

 about 360 feet of timber. 



The "Willet Hall Oak is an extremely fine picturesque tree. The old 

 "Willey Oak," of the Ordinance map, has long since disappeared without leaving 

 any record of its size. This tree grows about half a mile from that one, near the 

 buildings belong ; ng to "Willey Hall. It is an upright tree with a perfect trunk, 

 but all the upper part of it is dead. At 5 ft. from the ground it measures 22 ft. 

 in circumference, and at 25 ft. it would still girth about 15 ft. The dead boughs 

 at the top do not now reach above 45 ft. in height. It is indeed a noble ruin. At 

 one time £100 is said to have been refused for it, and it might be worth all the 

 money now to an artist, if it was but in a more approachable position. 



