The Oak and Ash

Just to the south of the village of Peckleton, in the county of Leicestershire, standing in the middle of a field is what appears to be an oddity of nature, a tree that is both Oak and Ash. Not surprisingly it is known locally as ‘The Oak and Ash’.

Many of the walks undertaken by local ramblers pass by this tree, or more correctly, trees, and it may be that they are unaware of how the ‘Oak and Ash’ came to grow in this particular spot. Here then is the legend of ‘The Oak and the Ash’.

The story begins sometime during the latter part of the 18th century, exactly when it is impossible to say, but at that time the landscape around Peckleton, Kirkby Mallory and Earl Shilton was greatly different to that which we see today, the fields were much smaller and the land was tilled and worked by people of all ages, generations of the same families working the same fields year on year. Also there was a great deal of rivalry between the different families and the groups of workers would generally keep apart from other areas, however, as might be expected, where the boundary’s of farms and fields met it was occasionally impossible for the workers not to meet and pass the time of day with others from outside of their close knit community. Thus it was that one day during the last days of harvest a young lady from Peckleton caught the eye of a young man from the village of Earl Shilton on the far side of the valley. From this very first moment a spark was kindled in their hearts and at every opportunity they would glance up from their labours and smile at each other.

As the days became shorter and the harvest drew to a close the young man decided that he must arrange a meeting with the girl before the work was finished and they would have to return to their respective villages, perhaps never to see each other again. As luck would have it, just as he was despairing of ever getting close enough to speak to her, he was told by his father to fetch water from the stream and it happened that to do so he would have to pass close by the girl.

As he was passing he whispered to her, ‘ I love you, meet me at this spot if you love me,’ with this he moved on to the stream, wondering if she would turn up.

He had no need to worry for the girl had indeed fallen in love with him and, although he had only ever smiled at her, she knew in her heart that there could never be another man for her. Throughout the Autumn and at every opportunity in the Winter they would meet at the same spot and spend an hour or so enjoying the changing of the seasons and each others company, all the time their love growing stronger by the day.

Unfortunately, although the two young people only wished to be together for ever, their parents had other designs on their lives and one day the girls father announced that he had promised her hand in marriage to a young man from another village. This almost broke her heart but as an obedient daughter she knew that she would have to agree to the match.
Therefore on a day in early Spring as she sat with her own true love at the spot where they had courted since those first shy glances across the golden sheaves of corn she sobbed out the fact they must part forever.

In those days long ago there was no chance of eloping and, although broken hearted, the young man accepted that his beloved would never truly be his and this must be their last meeting. Suddenly an idea came into his head, although they would never be together and no one must know of their secret tryst, there could be a memorial to their love, they would each collect the seed of a tree and plant them side by side so that at least in spirit they could always be together. So they each picked a seed and planted them, he an acorn and she a winged seed of the Ash tree.

Over the years the two trees grew, past the first flush of Spring and through the glory of Summer; as the seasons passed they didn’t just grow straight and true they grew closer together, the Oak Wrapping itself around the Ash to protect it in a fond embrace that echoed the love of those two young people from so long ago.

Eventually the Oak and the Ash, as with all living things, will complete their seasons, passing through autumn to winter, eventually to fade away and die, but while they stand the proof of the enduring love of two young people is there to see for those who care to pass that way.

Perhaps, if you stand very still and quiet, you may hear the sound of gentle voices and laughter, or is it the murmuring of the stream close by?

Ted Orton
First 1999 latest 2007