Original Oak in Headingley

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 5:44 pm

Just been trying to identify where "precisely" the Original Oak stood in Headingley using Google street view and was surprised that there appears to be no sign (except for the nearby pub!).From the Leodis image it appears to be here in street view but nothing to indicate it was ever there. (unless there is something on the wall I can't make out) - would be nice if one of the paving stones precisely gave it's positionhttp://tiny.cc/hloycThe Leodis comments say that a number of people were given souvenir pieces of the 1500 year old tree - does anyone know if these still exist - has anyone got one! (Does seem to be something on the wall though I can't make it out)

Hats Off · Post by **Hats Off** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 6:42 pm

Leeds Hippo wrote: Just been trying to identify where "precisely" the Original Oak stood in Headingley using Google street view and was surprised that there appears to be no sign (except for the nearby pub!).From the Leodis image it appears to be here in street view but nothing to indicate it was ever there. (unless there is something on the wall I can't make out) - would be nice if one of the paving stones precisely gave it's positionhttp://tiny.cc/hloycThe Leodis comments say that a number of people were given souvenir pieces of the 1500 year old tree - does anyone know if these still exist - has anyone got one! There is a plaque on the wall just to the right the bank with some details about the oak tree (can't remember the exact wording) that has been there since the 1940's.Regards.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 6:44 pm

Hats Off wrote: Leeds Hippo wrote: Just been trying to identify where "precisely" the Original Oak stood in Headingley using Google street view and was surprised that there appears to be no sign (except for the nearby pub!).From the Leodis image it appears to be here in street view but nothing to indicate it was ever there. (unless there is something on the wall I can't make out) - would be nice if one of the paving stones precisely gave it's positionhttp://tiny.cc/hloycThe Leodis comments say that a number of people were given souvenir pieces of the 1500 year old tree - does anyone know if these still exist - has anyone got one! There is a plaque on the wall just to the right the bank with some details about the oak tree (can't remember the exact wording) that has been there since the 1940's.Regards. Thanks Hats Off - wasn't sure of the details

Loiner1960 · Post by **Loiner1960** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 10:09 pm

There was an oak tree growing next to the plaque which was from a acorn of The Original Oak. Don't know if it is still there as I've not been that way for months.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 11:13 pm

Loiner1960 wrote: There was an oak tree growing next to the plaque which was from a acorn of The Original Oak. Don't know if it is still there as I've not been that way for months. That's interesting - there is an oak tree growing from the pavement on the steet view link. Wonder where they got the acorn since the "tree" in the 1940's was all but dead.

Leeds Hippo · Post by **Leeds Hippo** » Tue 24 Aug, 2010 11:27 pm

Even in 1830 it didn't look like it could produce acornsJoseph Rhodes - The Skyrack Oak, Leeds 1830

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 12:26 pm

Any oak tree there now is not directly descended from the original. According to research I have read in the late 19th c. when it was known that the tree was on its last 'legs' they took a cutting and planted the daughter tree exactly where the war memorial now is. After the great war it was decided that this tree would be removed to make way for the memorial. A cutting was taken from it and planted in st. michaels churchyard but sadly this 'granddaughter' failed to take root and died.

Chrism · Post by **Chrism** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 2:29 pm

Leeds Hippo wrote: Even in 1830 it didn't look like it could produce acornsJoseph Rhodes - The Skyrack Oak, Leeds 1830 Oooh I've got that painting sadly it's only a print tho'.

tykette · Post by **tykette** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 5:31 pm

Hi Secret-Leedsers, I haven't posted anything for quite a while.I seem to remember from when I lived in Headingley 20-odd years ago, there was a carving on display in St Michael's Church that was made from a piece of the original oak. Does anyone know if it's still there ?

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 25 Aug, 2010 8:58 pm

I think there is or was something in the original oak pub too - a carving of King Charles IIRC. King Charles,according to Legend, hid in an oak tree to dodge Cromwell's army- unfortunately the legend does not record where so it came about that for every every old oak tree from Land's end to Carlisle there are claims King Charles hid in it . This is also why the pub name 'Royal Oak' came about