"I don't want to go to school today", announced Little W at breakfast. He was worried that I would take him back to be taught by Mr Alsopp at Blists Hill again. Instead, we went to visit Boscobel House - famous as the place where the future Charles II sheltered for two nights in 1651 after the disasterous Battle of Worcester. It's pretty easy to get to - Turn North onto the A41 at J3 of the M54 and follow then turn right after half a mile at the brown sign, then turn right when you get to Bishops Wood - here.We arrived just in time for one of the guided tours. Our guide really knew his stuff and described how the building today differs greatly from how it was in the 17th Century (and, in the process, explained the nursery rhyme Goosey Goosey Gander). There is also an exhibition room with panels telling the story of the future King's flight. Of added interest to us, of course, is that the story includes The Barn - young Charles set out to cross the River Severn into Wales, but found all the crossings guarded, sheltered for a while at The Barn in Madeley, and returned to Boscobel.
At Boscobel, Charles spent some time hiding in an oak tree - later named the Royal Oak. The fenced off oak you see today...
isn't actually the original. Nevertheless it does have a plaque designating it one of fifty Great British Trees. I reckon the Tea Party Oak back home is much more impressive.
2 comments:
It doesn't have to be impressive to be historical. Without the parent trtee of this one the Tea Party might never have happened as a different lineage would have ben on th English throne; now that's impressive!
Sorry, but I think that's a bit far-fetched. I don't see why a tree that is a replacement for another tree has any historical status. And the Tea-Party oak is at least twice the age of this one.
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