307 



themselves and the branches they give off. The more they are examined the 

 more admiration they excite. To give a single observation. One branch given 

 off at right angles to the bole of the third tree given in these measurements 

 (20 feet 8 inches), at 6 feet from the trunk had itself a circumference of 9 feet, 

 and carried an enormous spray of foliage to a distance of 54 feet. What must the 

 weight be of such a branch in full foliage under a heavy storm with a gale of 

 wind ? Try it mathematicians ! 



The Battle Field Oak, near Mortimer's Cross, is a very interesting tree, 

 though of no great size. It is probably the only tree remaining on the field of 

 battle which was there on that " bloody Candlemas Day" (Feb. 2nd, 1461), so 

 glorious for Herefordshire, which placed the young Lord of Wigmore upon the 

 throne, and was so fatal to the Lancastrians. The tree occupies about the centre 

 of the Lancastrian position, and may therefore very reasonably be supposed 

 to have given its shelter to Sir Owen Tudor and his staff for the night before 

 the battle. It now forms the boundary mark of the four parishes of Kingsland, 

 Lucton, Aymestrey, and Shobden, and may certainly be said to figure on more 

 legal documents than any other tree in the county. It has a circumference of 

 14ft. 2in., is quite hollow, and for the most part dead, though it has still living 

 branches to the north and east. 



The Nontjpton Oak.— The oak on the brow of the hill at Nonupton, or 

 Nuim's Upton, near Little Hereford, has been noted from time immemorial as a 

 very remarkable tree. Its prominent position made it a landmark of the district. 

 It was probably standing there before the Norman conquest, and has been for 

 centuries perhaps the last remaining tree of the prima?val forest. From the name 

 of the hamlet it is fair to infer that the manor belonged at one time to one of 

 the border convents. It was formerly a very noble tree, carrying it bole straightly 

 and well up into its branches, as may be seen from the pictures of it. At 4h feet 

 from the ground, when standing, it measured 33 feet in circumferance, and at the 

 ground level this was increased to 50 feet. The tree had long been hollow, 

 and is said at one time to have concealed " 42 sheep — that is, 20 ewes and their 

 lambs and two barren ewes." Pic-nic parties often resorted to It from consider- 

 able distances. The tree was alive and covered itself with foliage up to the 

 year 1850 or 1851, when one Sunday evening it was set on fire by accident or 

 design. It was evidently suspected to have been done from mischief, as so often 

 happens to old trees, for Mr. Edmunds, of the Moor, its owner, offered a 

 reward of £20 to discover the perpetrator. The fire was discovered by the shep- 

 herd, about nine o'clock in the evening. It was found impossible to put it out, 

 and this noble tree had therefore to be felled at once, to save it from complete 

 destruction. 



