“OLD AND REMARKABLE. TREES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 83 
VI. Old and Remarkable Trees on the Estates of Earl Spencer in 
Northamptonshire. By F. Mircurxy, Forester, Harlestone, 
Northamptonshire. 
The estates of Althorp and Harleston lie in the mid division of 
Northamptonshire, and are, geologically speaking, on the Oolitic 
formation. The soil varies from stiff loam to rich red loamy earth, 
resting on sandstone strongly impregnated with iron. Althorp 
Park comprises an area of about 550 acres, is well sheltered, 
and beautifully wooded, the surface rising and falling in gentle 
undulations. The soil generally is favourable for the production 
of large hardwood trees, and lies at an elevation varying from 
320 to 450 feet above sea-level. The average annual rainfall being 
about 25 inches. 
In the following report, the particulars are given of twenty 
remarkable trees on these estates, all of which stand within a mile 
and a half of Althorp House, the seat of Earl Spencer. There 
are avery large number of other trees standing in Althorp and 
Harleston Parks, which are worthy companions of the “ monarchs ” 
of the forest which are described in this report. 
To a forester, one of the most interesting features in Althorp 
Park is the number of inscribed stones which stand in the woods 
and groves, and which commemorate the date when the plantations 
were formed. Evelyn refers to these date-bearing stones, and 
remarks, “The only instance I know of the like in our country.” 
The stones are referred to hereafter in describing the positions of 
some of the trees. Here and there, however, in the woods which 
these stones mark the birth of, there are standing larger and much 
older trees, which must have been planted long before any of the 
dates mentioned on the stones. The earliest date is that on the 
stone standing in the old heronry, near the Hawking Tower, built by 
the first Baron Spencer, and which bears the dates 1567-1568. 
Some of the trees stand so inconveniently for being photographed 
that nothing like justice has been done to their grand size and 
beautiful proportions, but the photographs in the accompanying 
album will give some idea of their shape, size, and beauty.! 
The first sixteen trees are growing in Althorp Park, and the 
remaining four in Harleston Park. The twenty trees give an 
average of 722 cubic feet each, which indicates their great age. 
1The album is placed for the inspection of members in the Society’s 
library.—Eb. 
