Historical Data from The Tree Register
The Newland Oak
The largest Common Oak (Quercus robur) ever recorded
This water colour by Hayman Rooke in 1772 is the earliest record of
this mighty tree.
Standing at Spout Farm, Newland, near Coleford in Gloucestershire,
owned then by a "Mr Probyn", it was 37ft (11.28m) in girth
near the ground, 34ft 2ins (10.41m) at 3ft (0.9m), and 30ft 2ins (9.19m)
at 6ft (1.8m).
The earliest known photograph from c. 1900 shows the tree when
it was some 43ft (13.11m) girth at 5ft (1.5m).
Many measurements taken during a tour by the Royal Scottish Arboricultural
Society in 1898 confirmed the tree to be 46ft 4ins (14.12m) at 1ft
(0.3m).
A photograph of 1950 shows the tree to have lost several large limbs.
Huge burrs can clearly be seen.
Measurements of 45ft (13.72m) girth are quoted about this time.
The tree suffered a near fatal collapse during a snowstorm in May 1955. Only one live branch remained. In December 1964 cuttings were taken and three young oaks were successfully raised and planted beside the Newland Oak. The remnants of the old tree were set on fire by vandals in 1970.
Later two of the new ones were removed to make space for the best one to develop. Dr. Cyril Hart stands next to the new Newland Oak in August 2000. Now 36 years old it is c.7m tall and 26.75ins (0.68m) girth at 5ft (1.5m). Today, perhaps 1,000 years since the original Newland Oak was itself a sapling, its progeny is growing well.
Acknowledgment
We wish to express our grateful thanks to the Forest of Dean Senior
Verderer, Dr. Cyril Hart for his research and assistance with the above
historical data.