THE OAK TREE IN ESSEX. 99
Fig. 6.—Oak at Theydon Garnon.
Epping Forest may explain the dearth of large oak trees, for though
the lopping rights were regulated by law, yet such rights would be
likely from time to time to be abused. Nor must we forget that the
trees which most largely prevail in the Forest are the beech and the
hornbeam, trees which are extremely scarce in some parts of the
country outside private grounds.
Danbury Oaks.—I believe that I am justified in saying that the
spot in all Essex richest in fine oak trees is the park at Danbury
Palace. The largest tree is situated S.W. of the Palace (fig. 7). It
now measures thirty-one feet in circumference, but probably its
girth was some five or six feet more before a portion of the trunk
collapsed. The inside of the bole was completely burnt out more
than sixty years ago ; the tradition is that it was fired in smoking
foxes out of the tree. Thirty-five years ago, Bishop Wigram caused
an iron band to be put round the trunk to strengthen it. This iron
band is now imbedded in places some inches into the tree, and as
the trunks of hollow oaks increase in thickness both inside and out-
side, it is evident that this fine old giant, which was perhaps the
largest tree Essex ever possessed (excepting only the Hempstead
Oak), may yet survive many years.