1 September 1801: Painter Joseph Farington dines under the ancient Cowthorpe oak
William Allison. 1920. “My Kingdom for a Horse!”. New York: E.P. Dutton and Company. Get it:
.Excerpt
From Knaresborough we proceeded to Cowthorpe, a small village about six miles distant, three of which the road is very good, the remainder cross-country road – bad quartering for a carriage and several gates to open. We arrived there between 4 and 5 o’clock, and I immediately began a drawing of the celebrated oak tree, under which we dined. It is by the measurement given, close by the ground, 20 yards round. The principal limb extends from the bole 16 yards. The principal branch fell in the year 1718. It contained five tons and feet of wood. The tree is hollow to the top. There is an aperture by which it may be entered, but requires stooping. In the inside it was three of my long strides diameter. When compared with this oak, Dr Hunter says, “all other trees are children of the forest.” The Welbeck Oak admits a carriage through the inside, but it is calculated this tree if properly hollowed would admit two coaches. The tree is also very picturesque and had a great deal of foliage upon it.
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Original
From Knaresborough we proceeded to Couthorp a small village about 6 miles distant, 3 of which the road is very good, the remainder cross country road bad quartering for a carriage and several gates to open.—We arrived there between 4 & 5 oclock & I immediately began a drawing of the celebrated oak tree, under which we dined. It is by the measurement given, close by the ground, 20 yards round. The principal limb extends from the bole 16 yards. The principal branch fell in the year 1718,—It contained 5 tons & feet of wood.—The tree is Hollow to the top. There is an aperture by which it may be entered but requires stooping. In the inside it was 3 of my long strides diameter. —When compared with this Oak, Dr. Hunter says “ all other trees are Children of the Forest.”” The Welbeck Oak admits a carriage through the inside, but it is calculated this tree if properly Hollowed would admit two coaches.—The tree is also very picturesque and had a great deal of foliage upon it.
171 words.
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- Alexander Hunter (1)
· - Charles Stourton, 17th Baron Stourton (1) ·
- Cowthorpe Oak (1) ·
- Cowthorpe (1) ·
- Drawing (2) ·
- Evelyn, John (1620-1706) (2), writer, gardener and diarist ·
- Farington, Joseph (1747-1821) (12), landscape painter and diarist, inter alia of Turner ·
- Knaresborough (9) ·
- Major Oak (1) ·
- Oak (4) ·
- Quercus robur (2) ·
- Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-Trees and the Propagation of Timber (1) ·
- Tockwith (2) ·
- Turner, J.M.W. (1775-1851) (4), English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist ·
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