Jabet's Ash

Thank you all for your comments. The second part of my query regards the tree in picture 7 and two missing plaques. The tree looks as though it is in the garden of the house, on Binley Road, near to the junction with Marlborough Road but is surrounded by high railings and used to have a mounted plaque at its base detailing its legend. I think it may be tied up with Coombe Abbey but I wondered if any of you can remember the story/legend of this historic tree? Also, picture 8 shows the low wall which runs at the back of the green between South Avenue and Paynes Lane. There used to be a plaque on this wall (probably stolen for scrap at some time) which gave the history of horse racing which apparrently took place there, a long time ago. Does anyone have any info on this plaque or its contents? I share your views about the monument, MR. Like so many of the small things in the city which are a real part of our heritage and should be preserved, nobody seems to care. So sad!! Post copied from topic Photo poser 6 on 4th Aug 2019 6:01 pm

A few months late but that's the "Coventry Oak" traditional meeting place for royal visitors, where the baillies, aldermen and freeman would ride out to it in order to accompany the visitors into the city, royalty not being allowed to enter the city walls. To enter without this would infringe the freedoms of the city. Being city bred and not used to much equestrianism, it was about the limit of their riding ability. Post copied from topic Photo poser 6 on 4th Aug 2019 6:02 pm

Thanks Diggerdave, I have often heard of the Coventry Oak, and wondered what and where it was. I have searched the Internet for information about it, and yours is the only information I have found. A great pity more is not known about this. Adrian Post copied from topic Photo poser 6 on 4th Aug 2019 6:02 pm

Just thought I'd post this as a new subject as I previously put the picture on as part of a 'quiz' and I couldn't remember the name of the tree. My wife bought me an excellent local history book for Christmas and this tree and its supposed history had its own little section. It is still in situ but is due to be 'pruned' any day.

Thank you Greg, as a Stoke boy who has known about Jabet's Ash from an early age, it is nice to see it once more. Historically, of course, this is where royalty or notable visitors to the city would be welcomed by the mayor and led into the city at Gosford Gate. One of this was the Princess Elizabeth (Winter Queen of Bohemia) who was living at Coombe Abbey at the time of the Gunpowder Plot and was rushed within the city walls for safety when news of the plot broke.

Thanks Prof. Sadly there is no longer a plaque at the base to say what it is. Do you remember a plaque on the wall at the back of Stoke Green giving the history of horse racing there? Sadly this has also gone `missing`.

No Greg I did not know about the plaque on Stoke Green you mentioned. I well recall the plaque (metal) at the foot of Jabet's Ash. Why ever has no-one bothered to replace it? Stoke Green a conservation area as well!

I`m very much afraid that, from where I am looking, more and more of our real heritage is disappearing bit by bit.

Greg - when you say the back of Stoke Green, do you mean on the wall fencing off Stoke Park perhaps somewhere near the pillars of the non-existent gates? Though I do not remember that plaque I imagine that is where it would have been, rather than across the Binley Road.

The wall is at the back of the green alongside the Binley Road between South Avenue and Brays Lane.

Thank you Greg, that's exactly where I thought it would be. I started school at Stoke National and two sisters (only remember one Christian name) Priscilla Chisholm lived at the house which seemed to be the gate-keeper's lodge at the entrance to South Avenue, Stoke Park.

Does the history book relate who "Jabet" was?

There wasn't a "Jabet" - it is reckoned that the name comes from it (the original tree) being used as a gibbet for hanging criminals (gibbet ash)

Thanks for that Midland Red, I had no idea. By chance, Greg, if you are a 'Stoke' boy, did you attend Stoke National school as I did and my father and his twin sister before me?

I've just thought about why they use 'hanged' and opposed to 'hung' when talking about execution. A person could be both hanged (with a rope) and hung (in a gibbet). Or one without the other. It's distinction that would have had relevance in the past.