THE OAK TREE IN ESSEX.
93
The Hempstead Oak.—I think that the great Hempstead Oak
deserves the foremost place amongst Essex trees. This tree,
as will be seen by the list of finest trees in Great Britain in
Loudon's Arboretum," in the circumference of its bole was
the third largest tree in England. This oak might even date
back almost to pre-historic times. Under its branches Saxons
have possibly met to transact their business, and in more recent
times under this old tree may have often wandered that
notorious highwayman, "Dick Turpin" ; he was born in the
parish of Hempstead, in a house near the church known as the
The great Oak at HEMSTEAD, Essex
Fig. i.—(From "The Gentleman's Magazine," 1802).
"Crown Inn." In the Church Register, the event is recorded
thus :—A.D. 1705, September 21st, Ricardus filius Johannis et Maria
Turpin. Dr. Harvey, the discoverer or demonstrator of the circula-
tion of the blood, possibly also may have rested beneath the boughs
of this tree. He is buried in the parish church of Hempstead.
Arthur Young (op. cit. pt. ii. p. 149.) refers to the Hempstead
Oaks as follows :—"At Hempstead I viewed two immense oaks, one
of which is apparently of very great antiquity, they are unfortunately
both pollards, but the size such as must astonish the spectator." An
Essex Directory (1848) states that—"Arthur Young mentions two
immense pollarded oaks in a field near Great Dawkins Farm House