In the heart of Medieval Sherwood Forest stands an ancient tree named the 'Parliament Oak'.
Picture: Parliament Oak
This tree once stood at over 25 feet in diameter (Dukery Records) and is perhaps the oldest surviving tree in Sherwood Forest.
The tree that survives today is sadly a shadow of its former self, having lived out a thousand year life-
Despite being aged the tree has had a resurgence in recent years and has re-
The tree stands on the south side of the road from Edwinstowe to Mansfield and can be visited at SK5765.
It was originally a boundary marker tree on the Royal Deer Park of Clipstone. Occupying the entrance to the deer park known as 'Warsope Gate' on the 1609 William Senior map of Clipstone.
The deer park occupied the northeastern third of the lordship of Clipstone, and provided timber, deer and hunting for the King.
The Parliament Oak was situated on the northern boundary of the deer park-
But where did the name for this magnificent oak tree come from?
Clipstone Park and its associated Royal Hunting Palace was the Royal Heart of Medieval Sherwood Forest-
Clipstone was so important that a number of monarchs are reputed to have held Parliaments there including King John:
'It has been stated, with some probability of truth, that King John, while hunting in the forest, was informed by a messenger of a revolt of the Welsh, and of an insurrection in the north of England; that he hastily summoned a parliament to meet under this tree, and that it owes its name to that incident' (Joseph Rodgers, The Scenery of Sherwood Forest with an Account of some Eminent People there, 1908).
It is more likely that the tree was named after the more famous and important parliament of Edward I in 1290.
The Parliament was a massive undertaking-
The Parliament Oak may well have been named after this event-
The parliament of Edward I is linked to a national event of great romance.
Edward I was at Clipstone from the 19th-
During this time his wife Eleanor of Castile took ill with a recurring fever. She was staying at the nearby Cistercian Abbey of Rufford.
The couple eventually attempted to travel to Lincoln perhaps for religious as well as medicinal reasons.
Eleanor died on the way-
Her entrails were buried in the high altar at Lincoln Cathedral-
As Eleanor's funeral cortège travelled from Lincoln to London, a heart broken and devastated Edward erected wooden crosses at every one of the 12 stopping points on her journey-
They were known as the Eleanor Crosses.
A statue of Eleanor can be seen at Harby Church in Nottinghamshire-
Picture: Statue of Eleanor of Castile at Harby Church on Nottinghamshire.
A tragic and romantic story-
It can be seen then that Parliament Oak symbolises the importance of the Royal Hunting Palace, and deer park at Clipstone, and the importance of Sherwood Forest in medieval times-
Like all the veteran Oaks of Medieval Sherwood Forest-
(Andy Gaunt, first published 29/08/2012)
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Parliament Oak: Icon of Sherwood Forest
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The Future of Sherwood’s Past
Project page links:
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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey
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Long term Research at
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest
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The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool
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“Scirwuda-
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project
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Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site
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Searching for the
The Battle of Hatfield
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Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel
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St Mary’s Norton-
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Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest
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The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project
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Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project
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The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest
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Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel
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The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.
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Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey
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World War II in Sherwood Forest -
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World War I in Sherwood Forest -
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About Medieval Sherwood Forest
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Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest
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Project page links:
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-
-
-
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The Sherwood Forest
National Nature Reserve Archaeology Survey
-
Long term Research at
King John’s Palace:
Ancient Royal Heart of Sherwood Forest
-
The Sherwood Forest Archaeology Training Fieldschool
-
“Scirwuda-
Ghost and Shadow woods of Sherwood Forest Project
-
Investigating Thynghowe Viking
Meeting Site
-
Searching for the
The Battle of Hatfield
-
-
Fieldswork at St Edwin’s Chapel
-
St Mary’s Norton-
-
Mapping Medieval Sherwood Forest
-
The Sherwood Forest LiDAR
Project
-
Warsop Old Hall
Archaeological Project
-
The Sherwood Villages Project:
Settlement Development in the Forest
-
-
-
Researching Edward IIs fortification at Clipstone Peel
-
-
-
-
The Cistercians of Rufford Project:
Settlement Development, Dynamics and Desertion.
-
Sherwood Forest Environmental Survey
-
World War II in Sherwood Forest -
-
World War I in Sherwood Forest -
-
About Medieval Sherwood Forest
-
Robin Hood and Sherwood Forest
-
-
-
-
-
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