Great Dunmow - United Reform Church (Essex)

Giant Redwood - August 2004

Towering above the United Reform Church in New Street, Great Dunmow, is this Giant Redwood. This nice example of the tree has had a seat built around it. I wonder how long it will be before the tree outgrows the seat! Great Dunmow is an ancient town in the north of Essex whose greatest claim to fame is probably the Dunmow Flitch Trials. This is an ancient custom dating back to 1104 whereby a couple that can demontrate that they are still happily married after twelve months and one day will be rewarded with a side of bacon. Not the best town to be born a pig.

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* * * Update - June 2011 * * *

Giant Redwood - June 2011

It was still a nice looking Giant Redwood example in 2011, even though the trunk is getting ever closer to the bench.

Giant Redwood - June 2011

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* * * Update - May 2024 * * *

Giant Redwood - May2024

2004: "I wonder how long it will be before the tree outgrows the seat!" The answer was about twenty years. Apart from the seat being swallowed by the tree, the graveyard was looking rather neglected in 2024. The tree had some of its ivy stopped in its tracks some time ago, but there was plenty more creeping upwards. Too much to remove on this visit and also too much to obtain an accurate girth measurement.

Giant Redwood - May2024

Common Names and Latin Name	Latitude and Longitude		OS National Grid	Elevation (above sea-level)	Height	Girth	Date Measured
	WGS84	OSGB36
Giant Redwood, Wellingtonia Sequoiadendron giganteum	N51.86981 E0.36378	N51.86933 E0.36546	TL 62836 21667	263ft (80.18m)	24m --	-- 3.75m	May 2024 June 2011
Girth measured at 1.5m from ground.