Essex
Furze Hill, Mistley Parish
Old Knobbley is an iconic and well-known old oak, probably around 800 years old, or more, to be found tucked away in a rather beautiful woodland on Furze Hill owned and managed by Mistley Parish Council. There are a remarkable 21 oaks over 5m in girth in this locality, with several very large oaks over 7m or 8m in girth, of which Old Knobbley is the largest, being one of the 125 currently known oaks over 9m in girth in England.
Several of the trees are named, including Mistley Monster, Mistley's Majesty, Big Foot and Mistley's Monster-ess.
Old Knobbley even has its own website:
Old Knobbly
Species: Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)
Estimated Age (in 2025): 1,032 years
Form: natural Pollard - a very characterful gnarly old oak, with a low canopy, not more than 10m tall (in 2025)
Girth at 1.5m: 9.6m (measured in 2016)
Estimated Year of Birth: 993 AD
Reigning Monarch at the time: Æthelred the Unready, (Æthelred II)
Story: nominated for tree of the year twice (2014, 2016).
Sizes available:
40-100cm, 2 Litre pots (40 available).
Oakling ages: 3 years old (2022 seed).
ID codes: BP 1798
Mistley Monster
Species: Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)
Estimated Age: 708 years
Form: Maiden - an enormously tall tree with a superb canopy which until recently had been quite in tact with two main boles, one of which has now split and fallen, and lies recumbent on the ground (as of 2022).
Girth at 1.5m: 8.1m (measured in 2017).
Estimated Year of Birth: 1317 AD
Reigning Monarch at the time: Edward II (Edward of Caernarfon).
Story: one of a number of special trees in these remarkable woods.
Sizes available:
40-100cm, 2 Litre pots (47 available)
40-100cm, 4 Litre pots (2 available)
Oakling ages: 3 years old (2022 seed).
ID codes: BP 1799
Mistley's Majesty
Species: Quercus robur (Pedunculate Oak)
Estimated Age: 484 years
Form: Maiden - a lovely stately tree that feels like it guards the entrance to Furze Hill woods from the more human-centres playing fields, social club and sporting activities nearby.
Girth at 1.5m: 6.55m (measured in 2022).
Estimated Year of Birth: 1541 AD
Reigning Monarch at the time: Henry VIII
Story: 1541 witnessed the discovery of the alleged infidelity of Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, and her affairs with men like Thomas Culpeper. The evidence presented to the King at Hampton Court Palace shocked him deeply.
Sizes available:
40-100cm, 2 Litre pots (good availability)
Oakling ages: 3-year-old (2022 seed).
ID codes: BP 1800