Oak in history

Oak or Quercus to give it its genus title, is so indelibly ingrained in our culture that it is celebrated widely in myth and history.

Medievally it was commonly known as the ‘Sussex weed’   and its deep mighty forests spread far and wide across the land, particularly in the Midlands and the Weald (being an Anglo Saxon name for forest).

The occupying Roman legions used oak in the construction of forts and villas.

Its use in housing and all forms of construction has continued ever since, through the extravagance of the Tudors which featured the exposed first floor heavy timbers, supporting the upper floors that were called bressumers. 

It reached its climax at the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, when shipwright’s strained every sinew to create HMS Victory and all the mighty ships of the line that ensured the nation’s safety and proved that Britain really did rule the waves.