i86 LONDON TREES 



planted. In the shrubbery by the refreshment kiosk 

 there is a limited collection of trees and shrubs, the 

 most remarkable being the Golden-leaved Catalpa, 

 Arbutus of small size, and a number of particularly fine 

 Holly trees, some of which have attained to a height 

 of 30 feet, with the brightest and healthiest of foliage. 

 Though not of great size, there are many old Elms 

 on the hill, evidently the remains of division fences 

 when the ground was under cultivation. The Plane 

 trees, though young for the greater part, are thriving 

 nicely, as also quite a number of recently planted Oaks 

 of various kinds, including Quercus rubra with its 

 handsome leaves. Probably the most interesting, we 

 will not say historic, of the older tree growths is a 

 gnarled, half -dilapidated Oak tree that is fenced in on 

 the lower side of the hill, and within a stone's throw 

 of the refreshment kiosk. By some it is called the 

 ' Parliament Oak/ but of the authenticity of the 

 statement there is no corroboration. However, it is 

 undoubtedly an ancient tree, only about one- half of 

 which is still alive, the hollow stem being now about 

 2 feet 9 inches in diameter and 12 feet high. It is 

 still growing, and produces a well-balanced head of 

 healthy foliage. 



Gospel Oak takes its name from an Oak tree that 

 is shown in Park's * Hampstead,' which was situated 

 at the boundary line of Hampstead and St. Pancras 

 parishes. The name serves as a reminder of the time 

 when it was usual to read portions of the Gospels 

 under the shade of certain trees (usually the Oak) in 

 the parish perambulations. 



In the British Museum there is a print dated 1653 

 of a remarkable hollow Elm tree that stood on Hamp- 

 stead Heath. It had an entrance door cut out in the 



