The Chained Oak, England

There is an old oak tree known as the Chained Oak that stands in the woods of northern England. Ancient, sturdy chains have been wrapped around the tree limbs. As well as being a beautiful tree in a stunning part of England, the tree plays a key role in an interesting piece of English folklore.

The legend of the chained oak

The story takes place in England during the mid-1800s. On a foggy night in the dead of winter, the local Earl was travelling in his carriage through the forest. After a lavish dinner, he was looking forward to his warm comfy bed awaiting him in his mansion. Suddenly, the driver abruptly brought the carriage to a stop. The Earl stuck his head through the open window and demanded to know the cause of the delay. A figure materialised from the fog. A ragged old woman, a beggar, was standing under this very same oak tree.

She reached out her hands and pleaded, “Spare a farthing for a beggar woman.” The Earl’s stomach turned at the sight of her, so he flatly refused and made some snide remarks to the unfortunate lady. She begged him to change his mind, but he refused and told the driver to get moving again.

The woman cried out a curse after him; “For every branch of the old oak that falls, a member of your family will die!” The Earl might have snickered to himself, thinking the woman was likely insane and he paid no attention to her ramblings.

A terrible storm hit the following evening. A lightning bolt struck the tree, breaking off a branch. A member of the Earl’s family died that night of an unexplained illness. To the Earl’s horror the old woman’s (or witch’s) prophecy had come true.

The Earl was whipped up into a rage and resolved to take immediate action. He gave orders for the entire old oak tree to be chained up by his guards. He was confident this would protect them from any further misfortune. In most cases, that’s where the story ends, though there are exceptions.

Alternative versions of the legend

In some versions of the tale, the beggar is an elderly man (although tales of a female beggar are far more common)

Another interpretation of the story diverges from the original with a different reason for the limb’s detachment. The  Earl’s son rides through the woods the day after his father encounters the beggar. Upon approaching the oak tree under which the curse was spoken, a branch breaks off and knocks him off his horse. The son passes away, and the narrative continues with the father’s orders to chain the oak tree.

An expanded version of the tale has it that the Earl dragged the fallen limb back to his manor. Here, he went completely insane in his pursuit of a cure for the curse. In order to save himself and his loved ones, he decided to conduct experiments on the branch. 

A rational explanation?

The legend may or may not be true, but the fact remains that this old oak tree is surrounded by chains. A less exciting but more logical explanation exists. There was a high regard for old trees in England, especially oak trees. The Chained Oak was prominently located next to a busy carriageway that the Earls frequently travelled. The tree may have been chained up for no other reason than to keep it from collapsing from its own weight and to ensure this treasured landmark endured.