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brief report of this hurried visit, which the limited space remaining at his dis- 

 posal demands, and to do justice at the same time to the series of magnificent 

 trees that luxuriate in Moccas Park is simply impossible ; and there seems nothing 

 for it but to give the facts as they were met with, and to offer a humble 

 apology to " the Spirit of every tree " — and there will be very many of them 

 — that does not get the full description it merits. 



The chief approach to Moccas now leads through a part of that grand 

 avenue of Scotch Firs, and Yew trees, which bears the name of Monnington 

 "Walk. It presents a very striking feature of the Estate, and, indeed, of this 

 district of the county. The Walk extends in a direct line west from Monning- 

 ton Court to Brobury. It occupies the high ground on the northern side of the 

 river. It is very level, well turfed, and nearly a mile long. The views from 

 it are very fine and the trees themselves very picturesque. The Scotch Firs 

 may be said to average from 8ft. to 9ft. in circumference at 8 feet from the ground. 

 Here are the actual measurements of 20 of them : 7ft. llin. ; 8ft. Sin ; 8ft. 3in., 

 a beautiful tree in front of the vicarage ; 8ft. lnin. ; 8ft. 3gin. ; 8ft. 5in. ; 

 7ft. 9Mn. ; 9ft. 9in., damaged by wind and decay ; 9ft. Sin. ; 9ft. 3in. ; 9ft. 9in. ; 

 9ft. 8in. ; 9ft. 7in. ; 10ft. 7in. ; 10ft. llin. ; 8ft. 5in. ; 8ft. lllin. ; 9ft. ljin. ; and 

 10ft. 5-2in. The Yew trees at 4ft. from the ground average about 5ft. lOin. 

 — the two largest measuring 7ft. 3in., and 7ft. 6in. in circumference. Here and 

 there Oaks have been planted in place of the Firs, but this lapse of good taste 

 is being extinguished and the Fir trees restored according as the Oaks are re- 

 moved, or as accidents to tree life may require. 



The "Walk is continued in the same line through Monnington Coppice of 

 Oakwood, by Oak trees of a much later date ; but over Brobury Scar the 

 avenue is formed of Sweet Chestnut trees of a size and character that carry the 

 mind back again to the original formation of the "Walk. Here are the measure- 

 ments of half a dozen of the best Sweet Chestnut trees : — 14 ft. 7^ in. ; 13 ft. > 

 14 ft. 4 in.; 14 ft. 3 in.; 15 ft.; and 12 ft. 11 in. in circumference. They reach 

 the height of some 50 or 00 ft. , but are considerably past their prime. 



Monnington Walk has long been an object of great interest in itself, but 

 history is silent as to the exact time and cause of its formation. There can be 

 no doubt, however, that this extensive piece of ornamental planting was made as 

 an approach to Monnington Court, from the Welsh borders by Bredwardine ford 

 (before the bridge was built)— and by inference its formation may be dated at 

 about the middle of the 17th century. One of the trees in the Walk was blown 

 down about three years ago, and on carefully examining it the annual rings of 

 growth in the wood were found to be 240 — this would show the date to be 1628. 

 Abont this time Monnington Court was the seat of the Tomkyns' family — Sir 

 John Tomkyns, Knt., lived there. His son Uvedale Tomkyns is believed to 

 have built Monnington Church, for his initials are to be seen on the Church 

 Porch, Font, and Communion Table, coupled with those of his wife, Mary, 

 daughter of Edward Capel, of How Caple (presumably an heiress) ; and the 



