Oldest oak & ‘witch haven’ in fire attack
THE oldest oak in England has been badly damaged after it was set ablaze.
Old Knobbley, which dates back to King John signing the Magna Carta in 1215, was a reputed hiding place for witches.
Firefighters took 30 minutes to put out the blaze, which they have recorded as “deliberate”.
Experts hope the tree – only 13ft high but 38ft across – will still be strong enough to survive.
Historians said the oak at Mistley, Essex, had been set ablaze in the past.
The village was home to Oliver Cromwell’s sadistic aide Matthew Hopkins, who toured the countryside looking for witches.
Legend has women hiding in the oak’s hollow trunk to avoid being burnt at the stake in the 1640s.