Historical uses for Trees in England

By Ken Walters

The historical uses of trees for wood, medicine, dyes and folklore between 100 AD and 1700 AD in England.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ken Walters
• Release date: Oct 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452317281

Ken Walters

2D digital artist, some 3D modelling, photographer.

Book preview

Historical Uses for Trees in England

100AD to 1700 AD.

Ken Walters

Published at Smashwords by Ken Walters

Copyright Ken Walters 2010

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Bibliography & Resources

Alder

Alder Buckthorn

Apple

Aspen

Barberry

Beech

Bird Cherry

Blackthorn

Black Walnut

Box

Box Elder

Buckthorn

Cedar

Common Ash

Common Juniper

Cornelian Cherry

Crab Apple

Damson

Dogwood

Elder

English Elm

English Oak

Field Maple

Fig

Foxglove Tree

Hawthorn

Hazel

Holly

Holm Oak

Hornbeam

Horse Chestnut

Lilac

Lime

Lombardy Poplar

Maidenhair Tree

Manna Ash

Medlar

Osier

Oval Leaved Privet

Pear

Plane

Poplar

Rowan

Sessile Oak

Silver Birch

Spindle

Stag’s Horn Sumac

Sweet Chestnut

Sweet Gum

Sycamore

Tamarisk

Tulip Tree

Walnut

Wayfaring Tree

Whitebeam

Wild Cherry

Wild Service Tree

Willow

Wych Elm

Wych Hazel

Yew

Introduction

I was a historical re-enactment woodworker with an abiding interest in making items from several different periods of English history.

I’ve built up my knowledge from being taught woodworking skills by Den Hatchard some years ago. I’ve turned to archaeological greenwood reproductions because of the challenge of researching items and then making and finishing them properly, as well as picking up all kinds of information from different people, my apologies if I can’t remember you all. And as a bonus it’s a pleasure knowing that people want to buy and use what I make.

From making a few things for friends I now work with museums and re-enactors around the Northern Hemisphere.

This book contains no pictures, it's intended for people who can identify these trees and want to further their knowledge. There are many good tree identification books you can read in conjunction with this one.

This booklet helps me to pass on some of the knowledge that I’ve acquired and I hope you take up and enjoy historical woodworking.

The Trees

Alder (Alnus glutinosa)

The Alder likes wet ground and can be found close to streams and ditches and was thought to house fairies, which protected the tree. It grows quite quickly up to about 20 feet then slows down and spreads out. In spring long yellow catkins tend to emerge before the new growth of leaves. The seeds are in a small cone. Its pollen has been found in peat deposits dating back thousands of years.