Bale Oak
Encyclopedia
The Bale Oak was a large oak
tree
in Bale
, a village in northern Norfolk, England that measured 36 feet (11 m) in circumference, was over 500 years old and, reportedly, featured branches over 70 feet (21.3 m) long.
and may have been a part of a larger grove.
In 1795, the oak was severely damaged. The oak was heavily pollarded
and the removed bark and some of the wood was sold to the Hardys of Letheringsett for tanning.
Norfolk historian Blomfield
recorded use of the oak in the 18th century:
Deemed dangerous by the local populace, the abuse of the tree lead to its destruction in 1860. The Lord of the Manor Sir Willoughby Jones
ordered the tree removed and, with much local mourning, the remains taken carted to Cranmer Hall at Fakenham
.
The site is now covered by a grove of Holme trees and is protected by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
.
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
in Bale
Bale, Norfolk
Bale is a village within the civil parish of Gunthorpe in the English county of Norfolk. The village is on the north side of the A148 King's Lynn to Cromer road.The village is 9 miles east north east of the town of Fakenham, 14.3 miles west south west of Cromer and 125 miles north north east of...
, a village in northern Norfolk, England that measured 36 feet (11 m) in circumference, was over 500 years old and, reportedly, featured branches over 70 feet (21.3 m) long.
History
In the middle of the 14th century, All Saints church was erected immediately east of the site of the tree. According to folk legend, the tree had previously been a site for pre-Christian worshipPaganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
and may have been a part of a larger grove.
In 1795, the oak was severely damaged. The oak was heavily pollarded
Pollarding
Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It has been common in Great Britain and Europe since medieval times and is practiced today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a predetermined...
and the removed bark and some of the wood was sold to the Hardys of Letheringsett for tanning.
Norfolk historian Blomfield
Blomfield
Blomfield is the last name of:* Arthur Blomfield, English architect* Charles James Blomfield, English bishop* Derek Blomfield, English actor* Lady Blomfield, English writer* Edward Valentine Blomfield, classical scholar and the brother of Peter Blomfield...
recorded use of the oak in the 18th century:
- A great oak at bathele near the church, its hollow so large that ten or twelve men may stand within it and a cobbler had his shop and lodge there of late and it is or was used for a swinestry.
Deemed dangerous by the local populace, the abuse of the tree lead to its destruction in 1860. The Lord of the Manor Sir Willoughby Jones
Sir Willoughby Jones, 3rd Baronet
Sir Willoughby Jones 3rd Baronet was a Norfolk landowner and an English Conservative Party politician. He was briefly Member of Parliament for the Cheltenham constituency...
ordered the tree removed and, with much local mourning, the remains taken carted to Cranmer Hall at Fakenham
Fakenham
Fakenham is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It is situated on the River Wensum, some north east of King's Lynn, south west of Cromer, and north west of Norwich....
.
The site is now covered by a grove of Holme trees and is protected by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
External links
- Norfolkchurches.co.uk's site on All Saints, the church built next to the oak, including various photographs of the site where the oak stood.
- Glavenvalley.co.uk's tourist site regarding Bale (the village) with a small blurb and photograph of the site of the oak.
- Norfolk Coast & Countryside's article regarding the history of the tree.