Actually, I noticed some kind of torch pole (lousy interpretation--sorry!). One Tree Hill looks like a place for weirdos to hang out and perform rituals or something!? Has anyone been there before? Who lives local? Maybe I should have posted this in the Town Cafe.One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill
This place seems a bit peculiar... What is that ornament meant to be at the summit? And where was the famous tree meant to have stood? There's no plaques or anything. All those steps to get to the top of the hill and then it's straight back down again... Actually, I noticed some kind of torch pole (lousy interpretation--sorry!). One Tree Hill looks like a place for weirdos to hang out and perform rituals or something!? Has anyone been there before? Who lives local? Maybe I should have posted this in the Town Cafe.
Actually, I noticed some kind of torch pole (lousy interpretation--sorry!). One Tree Hill looks like a place for weirdos to hang out and perform rituals or something!? Has anyone been there before? Who lives local? Maybe I should have posted this in the Town Cafe.-
Steve Grindlay
- Posts: 606
- Joined: 4 Oct 2004 05:07
- Location: Upper Sydenham
Re: One Tree Hill
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy One Tree Hill, Falkor. It offers a pretty spectacular view of London, and also has some history.
The hill derives its name from the fact that for several centuries there was a solitary tree on its summit, marking the boundary between the parishes of Lewisham and Camberwell. Popular legend claims that Elizabeth I went there one May Day and sat under the oak and from that time the tree was called the Oak of Honor.
There is some evidence to support this story. Records show that on Mayday 1602 Elizabeth I went "to Sir Richard Buckley's at Lewisham". Sir Richard Bulkeley (the correct spelling) was known to have lived in Sydenham, probably Place House. One source says that as early as 1609 the tree under which the queen sat was called the "Oke of Honor".
The tree was replaced and its successor was damaged, I think, during the 1880s. The stump of that tree survived until the early 1900s. A further tree was planted in 1905. It is surrounded by a fence, and does indeed have a plaque, a recent replica of the original.
I believe the "ornament" you mention is the WW1 gun emplacement, often erroneously referred to as a bandstand.
In the 1890s a golf club that had its course on the lower slopes of the hill, towards the railway line, attempted to enclose the hill in order to extend their course. There was a vigorous campaign to prevent this enclosure. The campaign was finally successful when Camberwell Council declared the hill an open space in 1905.
My great-grandfather was one of the leaders of the campaign, and he and another councillor planted the present oak tree. Their names are on the plaque.
I've uploaded some <pictures of One Tree Hill>. I should explain that these pictures were originally uploaded at the request of some archaeologists who were studying the gun emplacement. They were particularly interested in the picture of my great-grandfather, especially his note on the back.
The hill derives its name from the fact that for several centuries there was a solitary tree on its summit, marking the boundary between the parishes of Lewisham and Camberwell. Popular legend claims that Elizabeth I went there one May Day and sat under the oak and from that time the tree was called the Oak of Honor.
There is some evidence to support this story. Records show that on Mayday 1602 Elizabeth I went "to Sir Richard Buckley's at Lewisham". Sir Richard Bulkeley (the correct spelling) was known to have lived in Sydenham, probably Place House. One source says that as early as 1609 the tree under which the queen sat was called the "Oke of Honor".
The tree was replaced and its successor was damaged, I think, during the 1880s. The stump of that tree survived until the early 1900s. A further tree was planted in 1905. It is surrounded by a fence, and does indeed have a plaque, a recent replica of the original.
I believe the "ornament" you mention is the WW1 gun emplacement, often erroneously referred to as a bandstand.
In the 1890s a golf club that had its course on the lower slopes of the hill, towards the railway line, attempted to enclose the hill in order to extend their course. There was a vigorous campaign to prevent this enclosure. The campaign was finally successful when Camberwell Council declared the hill an open space in 1905.
My great-grandfather was one of the leaders of the campaign, and he and another councillor planted the present oak tree. Their names are on the plaque.
I've uploaded some <pictures of One Tree Hill>. I should explain that these pictures were originally uploaded at the request of some archaeologists who were studying the gun emplacement. They were particularly interested in the picture of my great-grandfather, especially his note on the back.
I didn't realise you had important ancestors who played a part in the history of Forest Hill. I wasn't aware there was a campagn to nick that hill for extending a golf course. As always, some very interesting information you've provided there, Steve! Now I know what that "thing" was...thanks! 
I'll have another climb up One Tree Hill when I'm not feeling so scared. I need to take a look at the Church. Just reading a bit about it in Darrell Spurgeon's underated book; honestly, you all need to pick up a copy of this! It's called "Discover Sydenham and Catford".
I'll have another climb up One Tree Hill when I'm not feeling so scared. I need to take a look at the Church. Just reading a bit about it in Darrell Spurgeon's underated book; honestly, you all need to pick up a copy of this! It's called "Discover Sydenham and Catford".