MSO6985 - Hoar Oak Tree (Tree)

Summary

Hoar Oak Tree is thought to have formed part of a line of historic oak trees on the boundary between the Forest of Exmoor and the commons of Lynton and Brendon.

Please read the Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record .

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

SS 74756 43060 Hoar Oak Tree is the latest successor in a line of historic oak trees which marked where the Forest of Exmoor boundary met the boundary dividing the commons of Lynton and Brendon. A tree, annotated 'Hoar Oak Tree' is depicted betwee the stream and boundary bank on the 1890 Ordnance Survey map at SS 74742 43016. [1] According to McDermot [2] the original oak fell about the year 1658. In 1662 a young oak was set at, or very near, the place where the old oak stood. McDermot shows a picture of Hoar Oak Tree (facing page 348) stating that the previous tree, which stood a few yards below the gate,' blew down in 1916'. (Presumably this refers to the tree shown by the Ordnance Survey which would have made it 254 years old.) He does not however say when the tree in the picture was planted.The present tree (presumably the one in McDermot's picture) stands at SS 74756 43060 on the south side of the stream some 5 metres above the gate protected by a wooden fence (so is about 17 metres east of the site surveyed by the Ordnance Survey in 1888). The current tree is thriving and in good condition though somewhat stunted. Burton says this tree when measured on 23 Jan 1983 was 7.4 metres high and had girth of 1 metre [3]. Surveyed at 1:2500.[4] Hoar Oak Tree is often mentioned in the annual perambulations of the forest. [2, 5-6] The Hoar Oak Tree is mentioned in the 2013 report by Hazel Riley, a field survey and synthesis of previous projects in the Hoaroak Valley, funded by the Exmoor Moorland Landscape Partnership Scheme. [7] The tree is depicted on one of the two 1818 Inclosure Maps of Exmoor. [8] It is also shown but also labelled on the other Inclosure Map. [9] This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [10]

Sources/Archives (10)

  • <1> Map: Ordnance Survey. 1868-1901. County Series; 1st Edition 25 Inch Map. 1:2500. 1890, Devon 7(10).
  • <2> Monograph: MacDermot, E T. 1911. A History of Exmoor Forest. 4, 113, 349.
  • <3> Monograph: Burton, R.A.. 1989. The Heritage of Exmoor. Roger A. Burton. 30.
  • <4> Unpublished document: Sainsbury, I.S.S. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 15 September 1994.
  • <5> Monograph: Siraut, M.. Royal Forest, Exmoor: A guide to the Royal Forest of Exmoor. Exmoor National Park Authority. 3.
  • <6> Leaflet: 2013. Hoaroak Valley, Exmoor: Exmoor moorland archaeology walks series. Exmoor National Park Authority.
  • <7> Report: Riley, H.. 2013. Hoaroak Valley: Historic landscape survey and analysis. 32.
  • <8> Map: Kelsey, F.J.. 1818. A Map of Exmoor Forest Referred to by the annexed Award. 4 inches : 1 mile. Pen and Ink.
  • <9> Map: Kelsey, F.J.. 1818. The Map Referred to in the annexed Award [Exmoor Inclosure Award]. 4 inches : 1 mile. Pen and Ink.
  • <10> Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 895571, Extant 17 January 2022.

External Links (1)

Other Statuses/References

  • Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO11051
  • Local List Status (Unassessed)
  • National Monuments Record reference: SS 74 SW74
  • National Park: Exmoor National Park
  • NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 895571
  • Somerset SMR PRN (Somerset): 33190

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred SS 7476 4301 (61m by 41m)
Map sheet SS74SW
Civil Parish BRENDON, NORTH DEVON, DEVON
Civil Parish EXMOOR, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Jan 17 2022 6:32PM

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