Image ID: 14744

Re-planting 'The Shire Oak'

Shireoaks
England

Although there are many variants to the spelling of Shireoaks, the general name of the place is said to derive from an oak tree near the village. The tree -or possibly trees - stood near the meeting place of the three shires, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire and the branches are said to have hung over the three counties. The site, which is generally accepted as the original one - is now entirely in Nottinghamshire due to changes in the boundaries over the centuries. Ordnance survey maps show the tree on a site to the west of Steetley, where as in fact it was in the corner of Shireoaks Park where the road branched off from Steetley Lane. The original tree is no longer in existence, it is recorded that the original tree survived until about 1800. There is a suggestion that a new tree was planted some time before 1864. This tree disappeared and is thought to have been cut down by vandals. From this date, until 1951 there was no 'Shire-oak'. On the 5th of April 1951 as part of the 'Festival of Britain' celebrations the Mayor of Worksop, John Wilkinson planted a young sapling, assisted by Charles Haslehurst (park superintendent), but this tree died and fortunately a group of residents replaced the sapling which still survives. In the very early days the forest of Sherwood did extend to Shireoaks and into the Park, the present ponds are believed to have been the marshes within the woods.

Date: 05/04/1951

Organisation Reference: NCCN001151

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