12 Anniversary Address. 



trunk. It is the common oak {Quercus robur), and judging 

 from its present circumference, it must have been a splendid 

 specimen when in its prime. I cannot even guess its age. 

 It must have been a great tree in 1624, as at that time it gave 

 its name to the wood in which it stood, as appears from an 

 old vellum plan at Alnwick Castle (tempore James 1st) as 

 " the Try sting Treewood.'" A board is to be seen among its 

 branches with this name painted upon it. For all that can 

 be said upon the subject of Try sting trees, I must refer you 

 to Johnston's Eastern Borders, vol. 1, p. 242. "Why it is 

 called the Trysting Tree, I do not know, unless being half- 

 way between the Abbeys of the Carmelites of Hulne, and the 

 Premonstratensians of Alnwick Abbey, it may have been 

 their place of meeting. 



This antique oak, wliere Holy Friars meet, 



Their beads to tell, or pater nosters say ; 

 Or, higher converse hold, around this seat. 



By times at night, or in the blaze of day. 



Or its trunk may have had around it 



" seats beneath the shade. 

 For talking age, and whispering lovers made." 



Another venerable tree which stood in the wall of the church- 

 yard, called the " Boome Tree," deserves a passing note. It 

 was blown down on Ash Wednesday 17th of February, 1836. 

 It was a noble specimen of the common ash {Fraxinus 

 excelcior.) 



Girth at the lower part 13i feet, and the same for 7 feet 

 up, when it divided into two branches. Girth of the bottom 

 of the western branch 10 feet 6 inches, and of the same branch 

 45 feet from the ground, 6 feet ; girth of the bottom of the 

 eastern branch 9 feet, and 35 feet from the ground, 6 feet. 



The tree looked sound, but its roots were entirely gone, and 

 w^hen it was blown over the churchyard was not disturbed, 

 and not a root was to be seen. 



Many particulars of this tree are recorded in the vestry 

 book ; no doubt the name is from " Boome," saxon, a tree. 

 — {Bailey's Dictionary.) 



It was sold by auction, after the circulation of the following 

 handbill : — 



