Beech Spinney at Oughtonhead aka Ladies' Copse
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Beech Spinney at Oughtonhead aka Ladies' Copse by John Lucas as part of the Geograph project.
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Beech Spinney at Oughtonhead aka Ladies' Copse
Image: © John Lucas Taken: 28 Nov 2013
In 1842, William Lucas acquired this piece of land in an exchange arrangement with the local Court Leet. In 1842/43 he wrote in his journal: "11th Month 7th, 1842: "Met the Leet Jury at Orton Head Common and they marked out a piece of ground to be given up to us in lieu of the cartway from the lane to our seven-acre piece. This piece I intend to plant." "12th Month 5th, 1842: "Finished planting my new clump at Orton Head. The ladies have all taken their share. J. Lister planted all the Poplars, Christiana Lucas all the Chestnuts, Sarah Lucas the Mountain Ash and Phebe Lucas the Abel Poplars." "12th Month 24th, 1843: ... and I have been planting Elms about Orton Head and Hungry Hill, also the small piece of land taken from the common, which should be called Ladies' Copse" Unfortunately, the elms are of course long gone and none of the other varieties that he mentioned were noted on my visit, with beech predominating.
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Image Location
Latitude
51.95577
Longitude
-0.300976