Barford was recovering after a very wet weekend on Monday, 25th November 2024, when something happened that would change the landscape of the village. At 10 am the giant Cedar Tree, which had stood guard at the centre of the village for centuries, suddenly fell. Luckily it fell across the wall onto Wellesbourne Road and,nobody was injured apart from the wall and a lamp.
This was truly amazing.
It is likely that the tree was planted in the 18th century when large houses, such as Barford House, the Glebe and Barford Hill House were built in the village.
The tree was mentioned in a newspaper advert in April, 1877 when James Reading advertised for sale ‘a piece of land at the corner of roads in the village of Barford used as a yard with tool house and having a very fine cedar tree growing there on‘.
In 1910 school children assembled at the tree with the Barford Drum and Fife band to march to a memorial service at the Church.
In 1963 this tree was one of four trees in the village granted protected status by the Warwick Rural Council.
Mrs Peters, wrote to the Parish Council in 1970 asking for money for a tree surgeon to attend to the cedar.
The earliest photographs of the village show the tree in all its glory growing over the old shop. As you came into the village over the bridge or up the Wellesbourne Road it was a familiar sign that home was near. People arranged to meet at the tree and many stood for a chat on the corner under its branches through the years.
It was truly a wonderful tree and will be greatly missed.
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I’m only a passing traveller, going through Barford occasionally for business, but I just wanted to say how sad this is. I love cedars and this one took my breath away the first time I came through the village, so striking.
I suppose they all have to fall eventually 🙁
Was the cedar on private or public land? I’m passing information on to former residents of the area. Thank you.
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