Queen Elizabeth's Oak, Greenwich Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Elizabeth's Oak |
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The fallen tree photographed in 2011
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| Species | Oak (Quercus) |
| Location | Greenwich Park, London |
| Coordinates | 51°28′41″N 0°00′06″E / 51.478104°N 0.001764°E |
| Date seeded | 12th century |
| Date felled | 1991 (storm) |
Queen Elizabeth's Oak was a very old oak tree located in Greenwich Park, London. This famous tree started growing way back in the 12th century. It was part of the beautiful gardens of the Palace of Placentia. This palace was home to the Tudor royal family.
Many stories are told about this tree. King Henry VIII is said to have danced around it with Anne Boleyn. Their daughter, Elizabeth I, who later became queen, supposedly had picnics under its branches. Some say she even picnicked inside its hollow trunk! Later, when the palace grounds became Greenwich Park, the hollow tree was used as a temporary holding place for people who broke park rules. The tree eventually died in the 1800s. However, it was left standing, partly held up by ivy. In June 1991, a big storm caused the tree to fall. Today, it still lies where it fell, protected by a fence and marked with a special plaque.
A Tree with Royal Connections
This ancient oak tree is believed to have started growing in the 1100s. It became a special part of the gardens at the Tudor Palace of Placentia. This palace was a very important place for the royal family. King Henry VIII was born there in 1491. His daughters, Mary (born 1516) and Elizabeth (born 1533), were also born at the palace.
Henry VIII really loved this palace. He spent a lot of time in its gardens. Stories say he danced around the oak tree with Anne Boleyn, who was Elizabeth's mother. Elizabeth also spent some of her childhood at the palace. People say she enjoyed picnics under the tree's wide branches. Some accounts even suggest she picnicked inside its hollow trunk.
The Tree as a Holding Place
After a while, the royal family stopped using the palace. The area later became home to the Greenwich Naval Hospital and the Royal Naval College. Part of the palace grounds was turned into Greenwich Park.
In the 1600s, a park keeper's lodge was built near the tree. This lodge was taken down in 1853. The tree's hollow trunk became a temporary holding spot. It was used for people who were caught breaking rules inside the park. A heavy wooden door covered the large hole in the trunk, which was about 6 feet (1.8 meters) wide.
The Tree's Final Years and Legacy
Queen Elizabeth's Oak had sadly died by the 1870s. Even though it was no longer alive, the tree was left standing. A lot of ivy grew on it, which helped to support the dead wood. By 1979, the tree was mostly a 20-foot (6.1-meter) tall stump.
In June 1991, a big storm caused the old tree to finally fall over. The fallen tree was left lying on the ground. To remember this historic tree, a new oak tree was planted nearby. The Greenwich Historical Society donated this replacement tree. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh planted it on December 3, 1992. This was done to celebrate the 40th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
Today, a plaque marks the spot where the old tree lies. Both the fallen tree and its new replacement are protected by a metal fence.
