35 
had turned and wound itself, in the course of its annual growth, 
round the half of the tree; and it is on this side, which is 
well shown in the illustration, that the great limbs are still 
growing most freely, and adding to their substance yearly. 
These huge overhanging limbs are carefully supported by 
substantial posts, and every means appear to be adopted to 
preserve this grand Monarch of the Forest to future generations. 
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR’S OAK. 
In applying the measuring tape to the stem, it was found 
there were so many inequalities along the sides of this mighty 
tree that it was somewhat difficult to get a measurement which 
would fairly represent the circumference of the bole; but after 
much care the tape was adjusted, and the resulting girth was 
36 feet at as near 5 feet up as could be determined. In Mr 
Simmonds’ book, through a printer’s error, the circumference given 
is only 27 feet, which it was explained should have been a girth 
of 37 feet. The company, however, agreed that the 36 feet girth 
