222 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



Thoresby, Welbeck, Ruffbrd, and Bestwood occupy some of 

 its choicest portions. They not only include much of the ancient 

 timber, but they are well stocked with red and fallow deer, 

 which are in some instances the undoubted descendants of 

 those that used to roam at will through the forest glades in 

 mediaeval days. 



A book might readily be written on special historic trees 

 still standing within the bounds of old Sherwood Forest, 

 particularly on the stretches of old forest at Birkland and 

 Bilhaugh, and on the less known noble groups of ancient 

 oaks at Haywood (Plate xxi.), near Blidworth. It is only 

 possible, however, to offer a brief paragraph on that Methusaleh 

 of the forest, the Greendale oak, a picture of which, as it 

 appeared at the end of the eighteenth century, is given as 

 a frontispiece. In Evelyn's days this famous Welbeck oak 

 was 33 feet in circumference at the bottom, and the breadth 

 of the boughs 88 feet. The circumference in 1776 and in 

 1790 was variously stated at 36 and 35 feet. Having be- 

 come hollowed through age, the great gap through the centre 

 was enlarged in 1724 by cutting away the decayed wood to 

 such a height and width that a carriage and six, with cocked- 

 hatted coachman on the box, drove through the tree with the 

 bride of the noble owner. Three horsemen riding abreast 

 were able to pass through, a feat often accomplished. In 

 1727 a series of fine folio plates of this tree, including the 

 passage of the six-horsed coach, were etched on copper by 

 George Vertue, forming a most rare volume. From the wood 

 cut out of the opening for the foolish freak of 1724, a beautiful 

 inlaid cabinet of considerable size was made, which is con- 

 sidered one of the treasures of Welbeck Abbey. The Green- 

 dale oak still survives, but only in the form of a shattered 

 propped-up wreck. 



