Bale Oak

According to folk legend, the tree had previously been a site for pre-Christian worship and may have been a part of a larger grove.

The oak was heavily pollarded and the removed bark and some of the wood was sold to the Hardys of Letheringsett for tanning.

Blomfield recorded use of the oak in the 18th century:[1] Deemed dangerous by the local populace, the abuse of the tree lead to its destruction in 1860.

[2] The Lord of the Manor Sir Willoughby Jones ordered the tree removed and, with much local mourning, the remains taken carted to Cranmer Hall at Fakenham.

The site is now covered by a grove of Holm oaks and is protected by the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.