Midhurst - Cowdray House (Sussex) |
This idylic view shows a group of Giant Redwood trees planted a short walk from Cowdray House (which would be to the right, just off the picture). |
These photographs cannot possibly do justice to the avenue of forty-seven Wellingtonia at Cowdray House, containing some of the biggest Sequoiadendron giganteum in England. Unfortunately these lovely and well cared-for trees are hidden away in a private estate, however, it is open to the public on at least one day in most years. Keep an eye on the NGS/RHS web sites and be sure to take the opportunity to visit this lovely unspoilt avenue. Time constraints prevented the measurement of all the Wellingtonia but the larger examples have been included and will certainly be gaining places in the Top Trunks page! |
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Cowdray House, or the grounds at least, has quite a history. The first home built here was called Coudraye House, and was surrounded by a moat. The second one was built in the early 16th century by the Earl of Southampton and was regarded as one of the finest country houses of its time. The Earl died childless in 1543 and the estate passed to his half brother Anthony Browne, who completed the building. Sadly, disaster struck in 1793 when workmen left rubbish smouldering in the north gallery. A fire took hold and the house was destroyed. The workmen had been preparing the house for the homecoming of the eighth Viscount prior to his wedding. The ruins were saved from dereliction in 1916, and can be visited - there is a small museum in the upper storey. |
Common Names and Latin Name | No. | Latitude and Longitude | OS National Grid | Elevation (above sea-level) |
Height | Girth | Date Measured | |
WGS84 | OSGB36 | |||||||
Giant Redwood, Giant Sequoia, Wellingtonia Sequoiadendron giganteum |
1 | N50.98862 W0.71811 |
N50.98806 W0.71659 |
SU 90069 21806 | 138ft (42.07m) |
35.5m | 9.85m | September 2007 |
2 | N50.98849 W0.71807 |
N50.98793 W0.71655 |
SU 90072 21792 | 127ft (38.72m) |
-- | 8.6m | September 2007 | |
3 | N50.98930 W0.71698 |
N50.98874 W0.71546 |
SU 90147 21883 | 194ft (59.15m) |
42.8m | 5.3m | September 2007 | |
4 | N50.98964 W0.71726 |
N50.98908 W0.71574 |
SU 90127 21920 | 174ft (53.05m) |
-- | -- | September 2007 | |
5 | N50.99107 W0.71629 |
N50.99051 W0.71477 |
SU 90192 22081 | 189ft (57.62m) |
-- | -- | September 2007 | |
6 | N50.99103 W0.71607 |
N50.99047 W0.71455 |
SU 90208 22077 | 172ft (52.44m) |
41.8m | 6.2m | September 2007 | |
7 | N50.99037 W0.71654 |
N50.98981 W0.71502 |
SU 90176 22003 | 163ft (49.7m) |
photom | -- | September 2007 | |
8 | N50.99024 W0.71668 |
N50.98968 W0.71516 |
SU 90166 21988 | 164ft (50m) |
44.1m | 7.74m | September 2007 | |
9 | N50.99041 W0.71650 |
N50.98985 W0.71498 |
SU 90179 22007 | 159ft (48.48m) |
36.2m | 6.24m | September 2007 | |
10 | N50.98963 W0.71718 |
N50.98907 W0.71566 |
SU 90133 21920 | 136ft (41.46m) |
33.45m | 8.44m | September 2007 | |
11 | N50.98955 W0.71736 |
N50.98899 W0.71584 |
SU 90120 21910 | 189ft (57.62m) |
41.2m | 6.92m | September 2007 | |
Girth was measured at 1.5m from ground. |