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All the United Kingdom England Liverpool The Law Oak

The Law Oak

A thousand year old oak tree survives in Liverpool.

Liverpool, England

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John Reppion
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The Law Oak   John Reppion, 2011
The scaffolding holding the tree up   jooniur / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
photo taken June 2018   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
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Calderstones Park is home to a thousand year old Oak Tree known as “The Law Oak”. It is beneath the spreading branches of this majestic tree that crime and punishment are alleged to have been discussed in the days before court buildings.

Local folklore has it that, although the Law Oak (also known as the Allerton Oak) looks for all the world as though it has been struck by lightning at some point in its long life, the damage was actually done by the explosion of a gunpowder ship in the Mersey in the 1860s.The fact that the park and the Law Oak are more than a mile inland rarely, if ever, get in the way of the telling of the tale.

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From the pedestrian entrance on Calderstones Park Road, the Allerton Oak is on a short circular trail to the left of the main path. It is protected by an enclosure of iron railings. 

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Added By

johnreppion

Edited By

jooniur, rbenn250, Gavin

  • jooniur
  • rbenn250
  • Gavin

Published

March 12, 2012

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  • Darklore Vol 6 - "The Calderstones of Liverpool" by John Reppion
The Law Oak
Calderstones Park
Allerton
Liverpool, England, L18 3JE
United Kingdom
53.38126, -2.893848
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