305 



CROFT AHBURY AND CROFT CASTLE. 



Taking heron's flight from Brampton Brian Park over the ancient forest 

 of Deerfold (—a profound salaam to your respected Club anent its discoveries 

 there ! — ) and the British camp of Croft Ambury is soon reached. It is one of 

 the most beautiful and interesting spots in the county. Good King Ambrosius 

 chose well the site of his camp, and spared no labour in making its elliptical 

 ditches and ramparts The views from it are most extensive, thirteen counties, 

 it is said, may be looked into ; and it has, moreover, a geological interest 

 peculiar to itself. None of these attractions concern us now, but there is still 

 another, and that is the fine trees that grow there. 



In 1864 the Woolhope Club visited this district. There were several fine 

 Beech trees growing in the trenches, with the circumference of 13, 14, and 15 

 feet. How valuable they would be if beech timber did not chance to be "fit for 

 everything and good for nothing." As La Fontaine makes his wood carver say 

 to the log before him, 



"Sera-t-il dieu, table, ou cuvette?" 



"WTiat shall I make of it ? ay, that's the rub ; 

 A god, a table, or a salt fish tub '. 



At this time there was also some Ash trees that gave the circumference of 

 lift.; 10ft.; 9ft. 9in.; and 16ft. 2in. The well-known " Bower Oak " is there 

 also, and around it a seat is placed. It is a triple-stemmed oak, and its boughs 

 trail on the ground on all sides. The three stems then measured 12ft. 2in. ; 

 9ft. 5in. ; and 9ft. 9 in. in girth, and had a diametric foliage spread of 108 feet. 

 It is a very remarkable tree, and taken together, the three stems give a consider- 

 able amount of timber. The shade, security, and seclusion of the seat at its 

 trunk is delightful. It should be called "The Lovers' Oak," from the romantic 

 scenes that have occurred there. Few trees have left more indelible impressions 

 on young memories. 



The dingle which leads down to the valley in which Croft Castle is 

 situated becomes narrow and steep, and is very celebrated for the great 

 length and straightness of the timber it grows. As an example, one young 

 Oak there presented a clear straight bole of 90 feet, and was estimated, never- 

 theless, to contain only 140 cubic feet of timber. Loudon mentions that "the oak 

 here will grow to the extraordinary height of 120 feet" (p. 1840). Several trees 

 of this kind, it was stated, were sold from this dingle at £40 each to make the 

 piles used in the construction of the Birkenhead Docks. 



There was a group of some 30 or 40 Larch trees in the dingle which, though 

 of no very great girth, the tape made six of the best 8 ft. 2 in. ; 9 ft. 10 in. • 

 7 ft. 6 in. ; 9 ft. ; 9 ft. 7 in. ; and 8 ft. 4 in. ; were certainly not less than 120 to 

 130 ft. high. Their effect was excellent in the landscape, a tree cathedral in 

 the dingle. 



The picturesque beauties of this dingle are very great and tempting to 

 dwell upon, but the description must give place to the exact measurement of 



