The Cross Tree

The Cross Tree was already a substantial tree by the 1880s. It may have been planted in 1809 when the road from Water Stratford was straightened and a curve was made in the road between Stone House and the Fulwell Road. The small green then created is not normally called the ‘village green’ but in 1925 the Parish Meeting agreed ‘that the District Surveyor be asked to take measures for the removal of road metal from the Village Green.’

After the Second World War, the tree became dangerous. The Parish Meeting of 1949 received a letter from the Divisional Surveyor requesting lopping or felling of the ‘dangerous’ Cross Tree. Howard Temple of Warren Farm told the meeting that he was the reputed Lord of the Manor and that he did not claim the tree. It was decided to ask the County Council to have the tree lopped but no action had been taken a year later. In 1973, the Parish Council decided that Cross Tree should be felled and replaced with a plane tree. This decision was supported in the 1974 Village Plan.

The ‘historic’ Cross Tree, a dead elm, should be replaced immediately. (Finmere Village Plan 1974, Oxfordshire County Council)

Tim Whitely of Evenley cut down the tree in 1974. The following year, Peter Symes-Thompson presented an oak tree as a successor to the elm. This stands on the smaller of the two greens and, each Christmas since 1997, it has been decorated with festive lights to mark the start of Christmas celebrations.

The Cross Tree in the 1880s Painted by Louisa Ashwell for Blomfield's History of Finmere, where the picture is erroneously produced as a mirror image	The Cross Tree in 1912 The postcard was posted on 11 September 1912 to Miss Barrett who was staying in France. The old Post Office is in the shade to the right
The new Cross Tree looking healthy in 2002	Shame about that ugly planter!