The Poem Tree, Carved tree inscription at Wittenham Clumps, England
The Poem Tree is a beech located on Castle Hill at Wittenham Clumps, into whose bark a twenty-line poem was meticulously carved. The inscription was deliberately etched to remain visible against the natural woodland surroundings of Oxfordshire.
Joseph Tubb carved the inscription over two summer weeks in 1844, camping beside the tree with a ladder and tools. His work emerged during an era when creating personal marks on natural landmarks was more commonplace.
The carved verses referenced local landmarks such as Augustine's monastery, Roman villa ruins, and the historic border between Mercia and Wessex. This inscription linked the landscape to its past in a way visitors can still trace today.
Visitors can locate a commemorative stone near the original tree site with the poem verses inscribed on it. This marker was installed during the 150th anniversary celebration and helps visitors read the historical text.
When the tree fell in 2012, its remains were left in place to support natural wildlife habitat. The fallen trunk continues to draw visitors who place flowers and reflect on the original carving.
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