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CHAPTER XIV. 
Burnuam BEECHES. 
Or the Commons within twenty-five miles of London, 
easily accessible by railway, and every year becoming 
more and more the resort of Londoners, the most 
renowned for its beauty is that known as Burnham 
Beeches. It lies within three or four miles of Slough, 
at no great distance from Stoke Poges Church. It 
owes this reputation not so much to the le of the land, 
as to its splendid groves of ancient beech trees. The 
poet Gray lived for some time within half a mile of 
it, and is supposed to have composed his celebrated 
Elegy on a Country Churchyard when walking in it. 
Writing to a friend he said: ‘“ The Common is covered 
with most venerable beeches that, like most ancient 
people, are dreaming out their old stories to the winds— 
‘ And as they bow their hoary tops relate 
In murmuring sounds the dark decrees of fate ; 
While visions, as poetic eyes avow, 
Cling to each leaf and swarm on every bough.’ ” 
The beeches are of very great size; each tree stands 
out by itself. They were evidently pollarded at some 
long distant date. Tradition says that this was done 
in Cromwell’s time, in order to make stocks for mus- 
kets. They form a rare and unequalled picture of 
sylvan grandeur and beauty, quite unique of its kind. 
