34 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
HIsTorRICAL AND REMARKABLE OAKS. 
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Although other trees have their history and associations, the 
oak has been the historical tree of Britain, from the dark ages of 
the Druids until recent times, when it has become less the fashion 
to plant it as a memorial of the great, or in commemoration of 
any noteworthy event. How far this latter circumstance is wise, 
not to say patriotic, is open to question. Is any tree, whether 
native or foreign, except perhaps the yew, so fitting, in every 
respect, to tell future ages of what has been done, or to mark the 
progress of time, as the oak? I trow not. 
Of oak trees remarkable for their historical associations we have 
the “Royal,” the “ Parliament,” the “Shire,” the “Gospel,” the 
“ Cheney Court,” from the French chené, an oak, and the “‘ Bound 
Tree,” marking the boundary of parishes or manors. In the same 
manner the name ‘ Gospel” is derived from the ancient custom 
of treading the boundaries of parishes in “ Rogation Week,” when 
under an oak tree the Gospel for the day was read, and these trees 
have generally been preserved, but often under other names. 
The Notable Oaks of England and Wales. 
The following list has been compiled from various sources, and 
from personal observation; but it may here be remarked that 
some of the measurements given are imperfect or unreliable, the 
height from the ground where the girth is taken not being given 
with sufficient accuracy, in many cases, to enable one to compare 
it with other trees, and a girth at the ground is in most instances 
valueless when the tree is so buttressed with roots that almost 
any girth may be arrived at, consequently much room is left for 
exaggeration. On this point Mr Trowsdale says in the Z7imes, 
“T would venture to express an opinion that local naturalists and 
antiquaries would render good service to the cause of literature 
were they to obtain, by personal measurement, the exact dimensions 
of the famous old trees now existing in their respective neighbour- 
hoods.” It is to be understood that in this record of remarkable 
trees they are all Quercus robur pedunculata, except where it is 
stated they are Q. 7. sessiliflora. With this preliminary I now 
proceed with the list. 
The Cowthorpe Oak, Q. robur pedunculata, whose age has been 
variously estimated at from fifteen to eighteen centuries, stands 
