St Lawrence Lime, Historic lime tree at St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury, England
St Lawrence Lime is a lime tree that stood within the cricket playing area at St Lawrence Ground in Canterbury. The tree sat at a height where bowlers and batters had to account for its presence during matches.
The tree became part of the cricket ground in the mid-1800s and shaped how the game was played there for generations. Over time, the playing field adapted to the tree's presence, making it inseparable from the ground's identity.
Only four cricketers managed to hit balls over the lime tree: Arthur Watson, Learie Constantine, Jim Smith, and Carl Hooper during their careers.
The ground is accessible to visitors, and you can walk around the field to see where the tree once stood. Visiting during a match day gives you a sense of how the tree affected the game, though you can also explore the space at quieter times.
The tree fell during strong winds in 2005, leaving behind a visible stump on the field. A replacement was later planted outside the boundary, creating a connection between the original and the new.
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