OS ref: SK 62091 68530
In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the Gorgon sisters. With venomous snakes instead of hair, anyone who looked upon her hideous face was turned instantly to stone.
In the legend, Perseus overcomes Medusa and cuts off her head, which he uses to petrify his enemies.
We think Sherwood’s Medusa is just as fascinating, mainly because, unlike the Medusa of the legend, after she was decapitated, she came back to life!
The story goes that Medusa grew from the stump of an oak that was felled for the rebuilding of St Paul’s Cathedral following the Great Fire of London in 1666.
Sir Christopher Wren’s dome as we see it today is lead-clad timber on the outside with a slim, brick cone hidden underneath. The base is reinforced with a wrought iron chain. Work began building the dome in January 1696.
Is timber from the original tree, the forebear of today’s Medusa, supporting that iconic structure? We simply don’t know.
St Paul’s Cathedral, London, from Blackfriars
What we do know is that oaks were coppiced – periodically cut back to ground level to encourage new growth – and the branches used in manufacturing. Oak staves are traditionally used in barrel making, for instance.
This forgotten practice of coppicing oaks and harvesting the regrowth is reflected in the names of places and buildings. The Coppice Oak housing development in Willenhall, West Midlands, and the Copt Oak pub at Markfield, Leicestershire, are just two examples.
