Wallace Oak (Elderslie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wallace Oak |
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Jane Nasmyth's painting of the oak, c. 1850
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| Location | Elderslie, Renfrewshire |
| Date seeded | circa 1100 AD |
| Date felled | 1856 |
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The Wallace Oak was a very old and famous oak tree that grew in Elderslie, Scotland. People believe it started growing around the year 1100. By the late 1200s, it was on the land owned by the father of William Wallace. William Wallace was a brave Scottish leader who fought for Scotland's freedom. Legend says he even hid inside this tree to escape from English soldiers! Sadly, the tree was damaged over time and fell during a big storm in 1856.
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The Story of the Wallace Oak
This amazing oak tree was thought to be at least 700 years old by 1838. This means it likely started growing around the year 1100. The tree stood in the village of Elderslie in Renfrewshire, Scotland.
By the late 1200s, the land where the tree grew belonged to the father of William Wallace. William Wallace was a famous Scottish hero. He led the Scottish people in their fight for independence from England. Some stories even say that William Wallace was born on the same land where the oak tree stood.
Wallace's Hiding Place
One of the most famous legends about the Wallace Oak is that William Wallace used it to hide. The story goes that he hid among its branches to escape from English soldiers who were looking for him.
Over time, this legend grew even bigger! Some tales claimed that the tree was so huge it could hide as many as 300 of Wallace's men. People said its wide branches covered a very large area, like a big field.
The Wallace Oak was well-known even in the 1300s. Another famous tree, the Wallace Yew, later grew right next to it.
The Tree in the 1800s
In 1825, people measured the Wallace Oak. Its trunk was about 6.4 meters (21 feet) around at the bottom. Higher up, at about 1.5 meters (5 feet) from the ground, it was still about 3.7 meters (12 feet) around. The tree stood about 20.4 meters (67 feet) tall. Its branches spread out far, covering a large area.
Why the Tree Declined
After 1825, the Wallace Oak started to get weaker. This happened partly because it was so old. But it was also damaged because people kept taking pieces of it! Many visitors wanted a part of the famous tree as a souvenir.
By the mid-1800s, it was common for Scottish men to own a special box for snuff (a type of tobacco). These boxes often had tiny pieces of wood from the Wallace Oak inside them. They might also include wood from other famous places, like a tree said to be planted by Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Tree's Final Years
By 1851, the tree looked very sad. An artist named Jacob George Strutt drew it for his book. He described it as a "melancholy torso." Many of its branches had been cut off by people looking for souvenirs.
The Wallace Oak finally fell during a big storm in 1856. People say its wood was used to make two fancy tables. Later, in 1867, a man named John McAdam used wood from the oak to make a special frame. He wanted this frame to hold letters about William Wallace at the Wallace Monument.
Images for kids
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Jane Nasmyth's painting of the oak, c. 1850
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JG Strutt's Wallace Oak 1851
