OLD AND REMARKABLE TREES ON HOLWOOD ESTATE. 303 



One of the largest stands alongside the public path that leads 

 through the park on the north-western side of Holwood. This is 

 supposed to be the tree under which Pitt and WUberforce were 

 seated when the latter resolved to bring forward a bill for the 

 abolition of slaverj'. The following note in reference to this episode 

 is extracted from Mr Wilberforce's diary of the year 1788 : — "At 

 length I well remember, after a conversation with Mr Pitt in the 

 open air at the root of an old tree at Holwood, just above the steep 

 descent into the vale of Keston, I resolved to give notice on a fit 

 occasion in the House of Commons of my intention to bring forward 

 the abolition of the slave trade." These words are engraved on a 

 stone chair which Earl Stanhope had set up close to this historic 

 tree in 1862, by the permission of Lord Cran worth who then owned 

 the estate. At 3 feet and 5 feet from the ground the stem of this 

 ancient oak girths 18 feet 1 inch and 18 feet 3 inches respectively, 

 the total height being 42 feet, and the spread of branches 51 feet in 

 diameter. At 6| feet from the ground this tree divides into two 

 (formerly four, two having been broken off) massive limbs, the girth 

 of each at the point of junction being 11 feet 4 inches and 10 feet 

 3 inches. The centre is hollow, and forms an open space 4| feet 

 feet in diameter, while the roots extend, on the lower side particu- 

 larly, for 1 1 feet in length above ground, thus affcirding a convenient 

 seat for the weary traveller or hard-worked politician. 



Another oak growing near the Five Island Pond, and within 

 two hundred yards of the latter, girths 21 feet 11 inches at a yard 

 from the ground, and has a sheer height of 45 feet. Three large 

 roots, or rather portions of the stem, extend outward on the eastern 

 side for 1 1 feet in length, and growing close together they form a 

 solid mass 12 feet in width, which projects above ground for in 

 most parts fully 18 inches. The centre of this gigantic tree is also 

 hollow, while, as is usual with these old oaks, the stem at 8 feet 

 from the ground divides into numerous large limbs, and at which 

 part it is buttressed to an enormous extent. Several other old oaks 

 stand close to this one, but as they are mere shells, and much 

 contorted in the stem, no reliable measurements can be given. 

 Although in nearly every instance these forest Patriarchs are 

 hollow-stemmed, yet they are otherwise in perfect health, and 

 annually produce fine umbrageous heads of the richest-coloured 

 foliage. Not far distant from the same pond is another interesting 

 specimen of the oak, the curiously contorted stem of which gives it 

 a peculiarly weird appearance, and the many stout props with which 



