Memory Monday
Today’s Memory Monday has a rather spooky feel as we bring you the story of a haunted tree at the heart of the university campus.
When Ian Harrop and I met retired farm workers David and Reg Clayton last year, they told us a very strange tale. The brothers had lived at Tocil House Farm for a number of years; their farm work involved tending to the arable crops as well as looking after the dairy herd. This large farm house was demolished in 1969 as part of the development of the land by the University of Warwick. The site is now occupied by Tocil Residences.
They recalled an incident in the 1960s when a local man came to chop some branches off a very tall tree which stood by the house: in high winds, the branches were knocking against the windows. This agile man climbed up the tree but found that he could not get near to where he needed to be. He called down to say that an unseen force was pushing him back and, in spite of the encouragement of those at the foot of the tree to just get on with the job, was quite insistent that he could go no further. He climbed back down again and the job was abandoned. Sometime later, the top of the tree came crashing down – 10 feet in length, 10 inches wide and cut through cleanly, as though with a chopper, according to David and Reg. Nobody could understand how this had happened - and so arose the story of the haunted tree!
The tree is still there, standing over 100 feet tall and occupying a prominent position by the Tocil Residences. It is a fine example of a Wellingtonia (correct name Sequoia Giganteum). In the History Group, we have a theory as to how the tree came to be planted there. The land was originally owned by the Leigh Family of Stoneleigh Abbey. In 1858, Lord William and Lady Caroline Leigh hosted illustrious guests at the Abbey, none other than Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The royal couple had engagements at Aston Hall and Warwick Castle from 14th to 16thJune. The story goes that they had originally planned to stay at Warwick Castle but that Prince Albert, on hearing that Stoneleigh Abbey boasted a flushing lavatory, insisted that they stay there to experience this luxurious novelty! During their stay at the Abbey, Queen Victoria planted an oak tree and Prince Albert a Sequoia Giganteum.
The Sequoia Giganteum grows naturally in areas of the Western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Although well known to the Native American tribes living locally, the tree was ‘discovered’ by explorers in the 1830s. This species was named ‘Wellingtonia’ by John Lindley in 1853. This was in fact an incorrect name as it had already been ascribed to another plant. However, in England, the name stuck and the tree is often still referred to as a Wellingtonia. The first seeds were introduced to Britain in 1853 by Patrick Matthew of Perthshire, whose son, a botanist in California, had sent them to him. We think it is possible that the Leigh family planted several such trees on their estate at that time, not only at the Abbey, but further afield. Tocil House Farm was a significant building and important to the operation of the estate, so it is feasible that a Sequoia was planted there for that reason. A friend who is an expert in this area has taken a look at the tree for us and believes that the height of the tree and diameter of its trunk is consistent with it being planted in the 1850s or 60s.
So, if you are walking around the campus, take a look at the tree – you can’t miss it as it stands much higher than the surrounding ones!
For more on the Royal Visit to Stoneleigh you might like to explore
and
Georgina Leigh, Lord Leigh’s younger sister, recorded the details of the Royal visit in her journal. The journal is now in the care of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust: to read her experiences and see extracts from the journals, you can explore further here…..
We are always on the look out for stories, memories and photos relating to Westwood Heath. Please get in touch if you would like to share anything with us…many thanks!
Our email is: westwoodheathhistory@gmail.com