Did the name Josiah Pullen ever grace your ears? At Joe Pullen’s Tree Plaque, we uncover the tale of a man, a tree, and a legacy etched in Oxford’s heart. Joe Pullen’s Tree Plaque sits on Davenport House. It commemorates a grand elm, planted around 1680 by Reverend Josiah Pullen, affectionately known as Joe Pullen. He was Vice-President of Magdalen Hall, a position he held for an impressive 57 years. His daily ritual involved a brisk walk up Headington Hill to his beloved tree, sometimes even twice a day. This simple act, coupled with Pullen’s influence, led to the creation of a raised footpath up the hill, making the spot a popular destination for university members. Joe Pullen’s Tree wasn’t just a tree; it was a landmark, a trysting place, a subject of poems and local lore. Richard Steele, the essayist, credited his walks to the elm with Joe Pullen for his long life. The tree even became a boundary marker for the Parliamentary Borough of Oxford after the 1832 Reform Act. The tree survived a near-felling in 1847 thanks to public outcry, only to face natural decay in 1851 and a final, ignominious end by arson in 1909. Yet, Joe Pullen’s legacy lives on. The plaque on Davenport House reminds us of the man who loved his daily walks and the tree that became a symbol of Oxford’s history.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to