97. The Oak at the Gate of the Dead

An ancient oak with an intriguing name on the Welsh border has an equally fascinating story to tell.

The Oak at the Gate of the Dead has been collapsing for centuries. It lies close to the road at the foot of Chirk Castle; the River Ceiriog and the border with England are just below. This position helps explain its arresting name. In 1145, an English army led by Henry II clashed with Owain Gwynedd’s Welsh force. After the battle, it is said the dead soldiers were laid to rest here.

Species details

Hybrid oak
Quercus × rosacea

Where to find it

Castle Road, Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5BL
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Hybrid oak notes

The oak, or Quercus genus contains about 500 species which are found all over North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. In Britain and Ireland there are two native species, the pedunculate (Q. robur) – with stalked acorns and stalkless leaves – and the sessile (Q. petraea) with stalked leaves and stalkless acorns. They are very similar and while the sessile oak is more often associated with northern and western districts, and the pedunculate is thought of as a tree of the south and east, the two species are found all over, and they often meet. Like many oak species, pedunculate and sessile oaks hybridise easily, and a lot of oaks you may encounter in the landscape are in fact hybrids. They are variable however, but if you discover an oak tree with stalked leaves and stalked acorns, that is a sure sign of hybridity, and you are looking at Quercus x rosacea.   

Another hybrid oak

54. Allerton Oak