Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-01-09
FAMOUSLONDON TREE
me Cause of Several Hard
Fought Legal Battles.
IT'S SITE WORTH MILLIONS.
But the Lawyers Never Have Been
Able TO Break Through the PhaIanx
Of Legal Enactments That Preserve
the Old Landmark In cheapside.

| don, that may be described as the
most expensive Of its kind on earth.
| IL Ave dollar gold pieces filled the entire
trunk and Ave dollar bills nuttered in
place of every one of the leaves Il
would not buy the terra firma II occu-
pies, for the land ON which II stands,
the northwest corner Of Wood street
and Cheapside. Is worth Sa.5ooOoO an
acre. The tree has stood ON the spot
for more than zoe years, while its site
has augmented in value to almost fab
ulous proportions
| There have been several hard fought
lawsuits over this plot OF ground the
fight having been carried even to the
house Of lords. but so far the lawyers
never have been able 70 break through
the phalanx of legal enactinents which
J preserve the tree. In the first place
there Ii law Ia England which pro-
bibits builders from putting up a
structure which shall keep out the
4 Tight from windows which bear the
mysterious words ancient lights,
This tree IN Cheapside literally Is sur
rounded by number OF ancient
lights proprletors whose consent new
er has been obtained when II came
to cutting down the tree and putting
n modern structure on Its site. For
the same reason the storekeeper who
i rents the tiny two story structure on
the corner just in front OF the tree
never has been able to put his build
ing up beyond sts present height.
Some years ago one builder, VINO
thought himself more cute" than the
others started to take the law into his
own hands and put up q building.
thinking to arrange" with the owners
OF the .ancient lights" afterward. But
he was met with q perfect shower
Of injunctions, proceedings, writs and
indictments, more than would nave
covered the tree In its full spring
bloom, and 1t Is said he never has been
able to pay the thousands OF dollars OF
law costs which his little experiment
resulted In.
A few years ago, some gardeners
were ordered to lop on certain limbs OF
the tree which hung over Cheapside
, 1t was done really to save the life OF
the tree and with the consent OF the
parish clerk and churchwardens OF st
Peters, Cheapside. the ancient LITTLE
! Norman church in Foster lane, near by
who guard this tree from the vandals
! clutches When the men began q
!, work onithe tree, however, II creates
big sensation In Cheapside. THE!
IRE cboppine down our tree" went VI
from thousand angry throats In tn
district. Policemen we're called, an'
doubtless there would have been an
other shower Of writs. injunctions ant
. proceedings had not the minister Q
the parish explained the real reason
for the looping operations.
Another almost impossible barrie
which protects the tree in its position
is the fact that 1t grows In sacret
b ground There is a law In London tina
: no building can be erected on SACRED
ground without special act Of parlia
,, ment, and woe betide the unhappy
man who dares to put up even a shan
ty within the sacred precincts of 9
graveyard In England
This particular corner Of CheapsIdt
has been immortalized by Words
worth:
At the corner of Wood street when day,
light appears
sa,e for three vears " $50
rh,s Ma ,vos ,.nrt - carot - 49,,
o,r .. ,,,.,,s trao ana !. at.raa.as ~
a ttan,,nn 80 yvordsvarth whs ,saa -
hraakfast a. l,t,la shan naar ~ !
90 naoL os tha uaar 1000 tns+ -.
drad waars hafora M ro,,,,rh,,s Az
Sararaa Anar,oa ann.,,ar traa $500
g. ,,'ts ,.rararara ana u snanas, - -.
rhsnoar.
mr.. ,,,. - !.
He shall have chrystis' curse for ave
Tho tree 10 therefore q d,ract %.
secondhand ~ nerbana tho oldest tre, ~
record ~ Encland and q mav a,,nost