306 



some of the many remarkable trees which adorn the grounds of Croft Castle, 

 and give substantial proof of the richness of the valley in which it is situated. 



Passing up the avenue of closely-planted Beech trees, which must be left 

 to the artist, to the other side of the castle, the " Garden Oak " cannot fail to 

 attract the attention it deserves. In 1864 it gave in fair measurement a circum. 

 ference of 24 feet. It is a pollard tree, but massive and noble, and give3 off its 

 branches well. It has lost two large boughs on the western side. 



The Ceoft Oak, which has so long been celebrated, is now but a decayed 

 and broken trunk, some 30 feet high. The circumference at 5 ft. so far as it 

 could be taken, was 34 ft., but the trunk is covered with excrescences, and the 

 quantity of small twigs that shoot out from every side, prevent the possibility 

 of taking any fair measurement at all. It presents, nevertheless, the remains 

 of a tree of very remarkable size. 



There are three other pollard Oak trees in the immediate neighbourhood, 

 all of them grand in growth. They gave the measurements of 20 ft. ; 22 ft. 4 in. ; 

 and 25 ft. 10 in. They are all more or less old and picturesque, and each one of 

 them would fairly merit a special description, as they would certainly reward a 

 special visit. 



An Elm tree on the west front of the Castle measured 14 feet 2 inches in 

 girth and was carefully estimated to be 120 feet in height. It was a healthy well 

 balanced tree with a foliage spread N. and E. of 72 feet, and E. and W. of 78 

 feet. 



The trees, however, for which the grounds of Croft Castle are most cele- 

 brated are the Spanish Chestnuts and for those who are fond of trees they are 

 worth going any reasonable distance to see. Loudon, in his "Arboretum," says 

 of them : " In Herefordshire, at Croft Castle, are some very remarkable Chest- 

 nuts; one of which is 80 feet high, diameter of the trunk 8 feet 6 inches 

 (circumference therefore 25 feet 6 inches), and of the head 112 feet. This is 

 probably the largest Chestnut in England. There is another Chestnut at Croft 

 Castle which is 78 feet high, diameter of trunk 8 feet (girth 24 feet), and of the 

 head 81 feet, and others of nearly equal dimensions." (Vol. iii. p. 2,001). 



Perhaps the most remarkable group of the Spanish Chestnuts are the 14 

 trees at the west end of a field near the drive. The circumferences of these 

 trees as taken on the visit of the Woolhope Club there May 20th, 1864, are as 

 follows : 16 feet 3 inches ; 15.10 ; 20.8 ; 12.2 ; 18.10 ; 17.11 ; 16.10 ; 20.3 ; 14.3 ; 

 17.7; 16.5 ; 18.10 ; 17 ; and 20 feet 5 inches. These trees are said to have been 

 planted by Dr. Herbert Croft, Bishop of Hereford (1662-91), after the Bestoration. 

 But this appears very doubtful, since Bishop Croft does net seem to have resided 

 at Croft Castle, though he belonged to the ancient family of the Crofts. The 

 Chestnut trees must be seen to be appreciated, for large as these measurements 

 of some of them are, they give no idea of the grandeur and beauty of the trees 



