Wednesday 24th June 2020 is Midsummer’s Day, and we will be posting a blog about the historical significance of this on the day itself. Today, we wanted to look at the historical meaning of the summer solstice, which happened on the 20th June 2020.
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Since Neolithic times, when our Dorset predecessors were clearing trees and building stone circles, people have remained intimately connected with the world of trees. We use forest areas for health and relaxation and increasingly we value trees for their role in regulating our planet’s temperature. In DHC’s records we can find references from every period to very many species, woodlands, forests and associated industries.
At the time of the summer solstice, as the longest day stretches over woodland and farmland alike there are two iconic British trees which take centre stage in Wiccan and Neo-Pagan symbolism. The Holly King, deposed on the Winter solstice when the days began to lengthen, prepares to battle the Oak King who has seen his reign extend into longer and longer days. This lengthening cannot continue, the year’s wheel must turn back towards shortening daylight hours, so the two mighty tree spirits, representatives of Summer and Winter, dark and light, do battle in our woods. The Holly King’s triumph is marked by later sunrises and earlier dusks, and so the cycle continues.
A search for oak and holly related records at DHC reveals a disparity – the Oak King definitely has the upper hand! There are plenty of search results in our catalogue for ‘oak’ – take a look! Many refer to sales of timber, or ‘oak tops’. Do any of our readers know what is meant by this? Is it another way to refer to timber, or might it be a form of cutting?
D-BKL/E/L/4/13 is a ‘Book of Oaks’ – a twentieth century survey of oaks which were planted in Holt Forest in 1848, including measurements of height and girth. We also care for the records of The Shaftesbury Heart of Oak Society, covering 1774-1870. DC-SYB/I/2/3/2 includes the ‘form and wording’ of a member-making ceremony and has to be a fascinating read.
But perhaps most intriguing is a black and white photo of a plaque placed by the ‘Victory Oak’ (D-STW/A/4/16). This was presented by Stewart’s Garden Centre to the 104th (U.S.) St Leonards General Hospital at Ferndown and planted by Dwight D. Eisenhower. The tree was planted in May 1945, and the hospital has since been demolished. Do get in touch if you have any knowledge of the ‘Victory Oak’ which must have been planted in the hospital grounds.
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Catalogue references to holly are far less frequent. We can see that the State Room’s bed at Kingston Lacy, carved by Vincenzo Favenza in 1855, has holly leaves incorporated in the design (D-BKL/F/A/11/5). We can also see that in 1920 the Bankes family were prosecuting ‘Coffin’ for the theft of holly from Holt Forest (D-BKL/E/L/4/10). By 1942 a more profitable approach saw holly being sold from the forest and this practise continued until at least the 1970’s.
There is also an intriguing mention of a ‘holly orchard’ in a list of other orchards and fields contained in the collection of Sparks and Blake, solicitors in Crewkerne in the late 1840’s (D-SBS/A/T/5). Perhaps we should not be surprised that the ‘holly orchard’ is listed next to ‘Oak Close’!
Many of you will be aware of the work of Cyril Diver who led a team surveying Dorset wildlife and plants in the 1930’s. His work includes a survey of Ilex Aquifolium Holly, a silvery blue butterfly which gathers around holly and lays its eggs on the leaves, something we will certainly be watching out for the next time we are near a stand of holly!
Good morning. The “victory oak” tree remains in place where I live in a new housing estate (once the home to st leonards hospital) which is called “victory oak.” The tree stands proud and is a remarkable looking tree all year round.