192 Gilpin's forest scbneby. 



But for the marvellous longevity of the Chestnut tree it 

 would be scarcely conceivable^ from Gilpin's description^ 

 that the one growing near Hitchin, first made famous by 

 his mention, ninety years ago, could still be living. Tet 

 such is the fact, the place where it stands being Little 

 Wymondley (Gilpin's spelling of the name, Wimley, 

 being doubtless suggested by the pronunciation). The 

 tree is situated near Little Wymondley Church, and is 

 visible from the Railway, the nearest station being 

 Stevenage, from which it is distant a little more than a 

 mile. The Rev. Lewis Hensley, the vicar of Hitchin, 

 courteously sent to us a photograph of the tree, taken in 

 1875, since which, he thinks, there has been little change 

 in the appearance of this singular and most remarkable 

 sylvan ruin. Mr. Hensley mentioned in his letter (dated 

 the I9th of May, 1879) that not long ago it put out some 

 fresh shoots. The vicar of Little Wymondley (the Rev. 

 Willoughby J. E. Rooke) is of opinion that the ancient tree 

 has not altered ' in any respect for the last four or five 

 years.' By its side is what looks like a pile of timber. 

 This, Mr. Rooke informs ns, 'is a portion of the trunk 

 which (being hollow) was unable to support the weight of 

 the upper branches, and so gave way, and fell, in a mass, 

 on one side of the tree ; but, being itself so very massive, 

 broke into many longitudinal pieces from the concussion, 

 on reaching the ground, where it has lain ever since un- 

 touched, fortunately, by any one.' Mr. Rooke adds; — 

 ' It is not now easy to take the girth, as more than half 

 the trunk is gone, but the line remains at the base where 



