In North Dulwich, London, there’s an imposing three-storey Victorian house with a large garden set back from the street. In the garden is a curious, stunted oak tree. Leaves never grow on the tree, although flowers bloom each year and it produces curious blackened acorns that never germinate.
The tree is known locally as the witch tree, and according to a local ghost story Eliza Halfpenny, a witch, lived on the site of the present house. Eliza was tried for witchcraft in 1642 by the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and burned at the stake in her garden. From the ashes of the fire the oak tree grew, and according to the story, if the oak tree ever dies Eliza will return.
The owners of the house now work in the City. They have a gardener and pay the tree no attention at all.
Possibilities
1 Although Eliza was burned at the stake she didn’t die. Instead she entered a torpid state to recover from her wounds. To the inexpert eye she appeared to be dead. Eliza’s charred remains were buried where they lay, and she remains there to this day.
Normally Eliza would expect to recover from her injuries within a year or so, but before she could recover fully an acorn was planted by Hector Speight (Hopkins’ alchemist). The acorn grew into an oak tree that draws nourishment from Eliza (its roots are entwined around her body) and prevents her from making a full recovery. As a side effect, it produces no leaves and its acorns are infertile. If the tree is removed or dies, then Eliza will heal and she will return.
2 Eliza died when she was burned at the stake. As the fire died down a rainstorm washed her ashes into the soil. Into this rich fertile soil an acorn fell and, affected by Eliza’s magical residue, grew into the twisted, stunted, leafless oak tree present today.
Although infertile, the acorns produced by the tree do have unusual properties and are harvested each year (without the knowledge of the property’s current owners) by Eliza’s descendants.
3 Nobody knows whether the story about Eliza Halfpenny is true or not (although there are records that Matthew Hopkins was present in Dulwich in 1642) and nobody knows what has caused the oak tree’s peculiar appearance. And certainly nobody believes in witches.
Nobody except the gardener.
The gardener is the latest in a long line of watchers, responsible for caring for the tree and ensuring its health. The line of watchers can trace their existence back to the trial of Eliza Halfpenny – and three other witches in the Dulwich area. The gardener is responsible for all four trees and, thankfully, all are in excellent health.
© Steve Hatherley
The tree is known locally as the witch tree, and according to a local ghost story Eliza Halfpenny, a witch, lived on the site of the present house. Eliza was tried for witchcraft in 1642 by the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins and burned at the stake in her garden. From the ashes of the fire the oak tree grew, and according to the story, if the oak tree ever dies Eliza will return.
The owners of the house now work in the City. They have a gardener and pay the tree no attention at all.
Possibilities
1 Although Eliza was burned at the stake she didn’t die. Instead she entered a torpid state to recover from her wounds. To the inexpert eye she appeared to be dead. Eliza’s charred remains were buried where they lay, and she remains there to this day.
Normally Eliza would expect to recover from her injuries within a year or so, but before she could recover fully an acorn was planted by Hector Speight (Hopkins’ alchemist). The acorn grew into an oak tree that draws nourishment from Eliza (its roots are entwined around her body) and prevents her from making a full recovery. As a side effect, it produces no leaves and its acorns are infertile. If the tree is removed or dies, then Eliza will heal and she will return.
2 Eliza died when she was burned at the stake. As the fire died down a rainstorm washed her ashes into the soil. Into this rich fertile soil an acorn fell and, affected by Eliza’s magical residue, grew into the twisted, stunted, leafless oak tree present today.
Although infertile, the acorns produced by the tree do have unusual properties and are harvested each year (without the knowledge of the property’s current owners) by Eliza’s descendants.
3 Nobody knows whether the story about Eliza Halfpenny is true or not (although there are records that Matthew Hopkins was present in Dulwich in 1642) and nobody knows what has caused the oak tree’s peculiar appearance. And certainly nobody believes in witches.
Nobody except the gardener.
The gardener is the latest in a long line of watchers, responsible for caring for the tree and ensuring its health. The line of watchers can trace their existence back to the trial of Eliza Halfpenny – and three other witches in the Dulwich area. The gardener is responsible for all four trees and, thankfully, all are in excellent health.
© Steve Hatherley
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