OLD AND REMARKABLE TREES ON HOLWOOD ESTATE, 301 



XIV, Old and Remarkable Trees on Holwood Estate, Kent. By 

 A. D. Webster, Holwood, Kent. 



Holwood Park, including Keston and Hollydale, the property of 

 Earl Derby, is situated in the north-western portion of the county 

 of Kent, and is distant from London about twelve miles. This 

 estate is of particular interest, both historically and for the many 

 old and remarkable trees growing upon it ; and, previous to 

 enumerating the latter, we will give a brief description of the 

 estate generally, including its geological features and history, in so 

 far at least as these bear directly upon arboriculture. 



History and Antiquities. — In 1767 Holwood was purchased by 

 Mr Kobert Burrow, who converted considerable woodlands into 

 beautiful pastures and sheets of water, and planted ornamental 

 shrubberies ; and, after being owned by an eminent ship-builder, 

 Mr Randall, was sold in 1785 to the Right Hon. William Pitt, 

 second son of the great Earl of Chatham, who made it his country 

 residence. To the energy and good taste of Mr Pitt, Holwood owes 

 much of its present beauty. He planted extensively, formed new 

 roads and drives, levelled many surface inequalities, and otherwise 

 improved the park during the short space of sixteen years ; for we 

 find that in 1801 the property again changed hands. On the west 

 side of Holwood Hill is the ancient Roman Camp, near which the 

 river Ravensbourne takes its rise, the ramparts of which were 

 planted in a most artistic manner by Mr Pitt. The remains of the 

 Camp consist of a large and strong fortification of an oblong form, 

 commanding an extensive view on every side, the area whereof is 

 for the greater part inclosed with ramparts and double ditches of a 

 vast height and depth, especially on the south and west sides. It 

 contains an area of about one hundred acres of ground, and is 

 nearly two miles in compass, the measurement of one side of the 

 innermost vallum from the brow of the hill towards Holwood 

 House being fully seven hundred yards in length. Judging from 

 the quantity of Roman bricks, tiles, ancient foundations, and other 

 remains which have been discovered at various times, there can be 

 little doubt that the Camp is of Roman origin. Some persons 

 believe that this was the Camp which Julius Csesar made, when the 

 Britons gave him the last battle with their united forces, just before 

 he passed the Thames in pursuit of Cassivelaun ; while others 

 suppose it to be the remains of the Noviomagus, the first Roman 



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