Tree

(lost) Nelson's Tree

This 1843 picture of the tree, from the Illustrated London News comes from View from the Mirror.

Site: Nelson's Tree (1 memorial)

NW1, Kentish Town Road, Castle Tavern

We learnt of this lost memorial from the excellent View from the Mirror: "The tall sycamore was said to have a direct link with Nelson who, as a 12 year old boy in early 1771, travelled from his native Norfolk to spend time with his uncle, William Suckling {his mother's brother} who lived at Grove Cottage, Kentish Town. Whilst staying in what was then a very rural north London, Nelson is believed to have tended his uncle's garden - which included planting the seed that would eventually blossom into the grand tree upon which his name would be bestowed."

VFM reports an article in the London Illustrated News, June 1846, saying that the neighbouring houses were to be demolished but that the tree, standing close to the southern wall of the Castle Tavern, would be saved. Go there now and all you will see to the south of the pub is the abandoned Kentish Town South tube station, now used as shops. In this photo of the pub in 2010, which comes from PubsHistory, you can see the distinctive oxblood tiles of the underground station building next door.

In fairness we must also report that there was another Nelson's Tree, also lost, according to British History On-line. This one was in Highgate just north of the junction of West Hill and Millfield Lane. It could be that the country is littered with lost Nelson's Trees so we will stop our researches here.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Nelson's Tree

Subjects commemorated i

Horatio, Lord Nelson

Born in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk. Naval commander who became a national hero a...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Jamestown tree

Jamestown tree

SL4, Windsor Road

Virginians seem keen on sending us their soil: in 1921 they gave us a statue of one of their great men, George Washington, along with som...

3 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Ealing YMCA tree

Ealing YMCA tree

W5, Ealing Green

Psalm 119 Verse 9, in the King James Bible reads: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy...

2 subjects commemorated
2000th tree

2000th tree

NW1, Harrington Square

This English Oak was planted to commemorate the 2000th tree of the Millennium Tree Planting Project. The tree was planted by Mayor Heath...

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Anne Frank tree - N5

Anne Frank tree - N5

N5, Highbury Fields

Anne Frank's diary often referred to the horse chestnut tree that she could see from her window. In 2005 the Anne Frank House museum noti...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Shakespeare's tree

Shakespeare's tree

NW3, Primrose Hill

The plaque is now lost.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators

Previously viewed

William Morris (designer)

William Morris (designer)

Designer, author and visionary socialist.  Born Elm House, Walthamstow, Essex. The family moved to Woodford Hall in 1840 and to Water House in 1848. He moved in with his friend Edward Burne-Jones f...

Person, Art, Craft / Design, Literature, Seriously Famous, Iceland / Faroe Islands

15 memorials
Walter Henry Childs

Walter Henry Childs

Auxiliary fireman killed in the bomb attack on Henry Cavendish School, Balham. Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly researched this man: Auxiliary Fireman Walter Henry Childs was born on 27 March...

Person, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Newham Council

Newham Council

West Ham was merged with parts of Barking and Woolwich to form the London Borough of Newham in 1965.

Group, Politics & Administration

8 memorials
Grace Bramley
War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
J. & E. Hall, Dartford

J. & E. Hall, Dartford

From Dartford Archive: "In the early days the company specialised in heavy foundry-based engineering. Later on, the company developed a specialisation in refrigeration engineering." We wondered wh...

Group, Craft / Design, Engineering

1 memorial