A piece of history rests before you. This is Mendelssohn’s Tree. It’s not just any tree. It’s a survivor a piece of a much older beech tree. A tree over 500 years old.
Imagine the composer Felix Mendelssohn. He often visited Burnham Beeches a forest the Corporation of London bought in 1880. He found inspiration under the shade of an ancient beech. He composed parts of his music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream there.
That magnificent beech fell in a 1990 storm. But the tree’s legacy lives on. Part of it now stands here at the Barbican. A memorial to both the tree and the composer. The Barbican Horticultural Society gifted this piece to the Barbican Centre. Carl Davis a composer and conductor unveiled it on April 10 1993.
The tree’s history is fascinating. It connects the serene Burnham Beeches with the bustling Barbican. A plaque tells this story. It highlights Mendelssohn’s connection to the original tree and its impact on his music.
Another plaque in Burnham Beeches further details the composer’s connection to the area. The German Ambassador even planted a new tree in 2005. This commemorated Mendelssohn’s legacy and the forest’s anniversary under the Corporation’s ownership.
This tree isn’t just wood. It’s a tangible link to the past a reminder of a composer’s inspiration. It bridges centuries and locations. Take a moment to appreciate this unique piece of London’s history. A piece of Mendelssohn’s creativity a piece of a 500-year-old tree. A piece that continues to inspire.