Tree

Mendelssohn’s Tree

Erection date: 10/4/1993

Inscription

{On a plaque beside the tree:}
Mendelssohn’s Tree
(See wall plaque for details)

{On the plaque attached to the nearest pillar:}
Part of a Beech Tree (Fagus Sylvatica) over 500 years old which fell in the forest of Burnham Beeches Buckinghamshire during a storm in January 1990. Burnham Beeches was purchased by the Corporation of London on behalf of the nation in 1880. The forest was the favourite haunt of the composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1808 - 1847) during his frequent visits to the area. He used to sit under this tree gaining inspiration to write several works including some of the incidental music to "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

Presented by the Barbican Horticultural Society to preserve these historic links.
Unveiled by Carl Davies Composer/Conductor, 10th April 1993.

We think 'Davies' is a slip and 'Davis' was intended.

Site: Mendelssohn’s Tree (1 memorial)

EC2, Highwalk

This is on the public high-walk below a north-south covered arcade.

Londonist found another plaque, with the logo of the Corporation of London, in Burnham Beeches which reads as follows:

Felix Jakob Ludwig Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1809-1847
An old pollarded tree in this part of Burnham Beeches was reputed to be the favoured haunt of the composer Felix Mendelssohn who regularly visited the Beeches whilst staying with friends in East Burnham. It is thought that parts of Puck and Oberon from ‘A Midsummer night’s dream’ {as composed by Mendelssohn, not the original play written by Shakespeare} were inspired by the mossy slope that was here.
The area was re-dedicated in memory of the composer by the planting of this tree by His Excellency Mr Thomas Matussek, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany on 20 October 2005 in a year that also celebrates 125 years of the ownership of Burnham Beeches by the Corporation of London.

 

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Mendelssohn’s Tree

Subjects commemorated i

Burns' Day Storm

Because this storm hit during the day-time it caused more human casualties th...

Read More

Felix Mendelssohn

Composer. Born Jacob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn in Hamburg. Bartholdy was a nam...

Read More

Burnham Beeches

A 1.44 square mile biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Buckingh...

Read More

This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Mendelssohn’s Tree

Created by i

Barbican Horticultural Society

From their website: "Our Aims: Provide information and practical help to Barb...

Read More

Corporation of the City of London

The municipal governing body of the City of London. Officially the 'Mayor and...

Read More

Carl Davis

Conductor and composer. Born New York City but lived in the UK from1961.  He ...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Royal Free Hospital - Qvist

Royal Free Hospital - Qvist

NW3, Rowland Hill Street, Heath Strange Garden

This strangely monikered garden was named for Dr William Heath Strange who, in 1882, founded the Hampstead General Hospital that went on ...

1 subject commemorated
Clock Tower centenary

Clock Tower centenary

N8, The Broadway

There is a clock dial on each of the four facades, and they are all working - August 2004 anyway. Above each dial is inscribed "1895". B...

2 subjects commemorated
Rita Ferguson rose bush

Rita Ferguson rose bush

N7, Cornelia Street, Charlie Adams Court

The Ferguson plaque is visible in our photo through the fence. The Adams plaque, not visible, is on the wall, to the right of our photo, ...

1 subject commemorated
Trees for Westminster

Trees for Westminster

W2, Cumberland Gate

Nice plaque but it, or the tree planted by the Duke, has been moved. All the nearby trees look far too mature to have been planted in 19...

2 subjects commemorated, 2 creators
Highgate Society & Menuhin

Highgate Society & Menuhin

N6, South Grove

2015: we read that this horse chestnut has suffered rot and the Highgate Society has replaced it with a beech tree.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator

Previously viewed

Sir Isaac Newton's house- detailed

Sir Isaac Newton's house- detailed

WC2, St Martin's Street, 35, Westminster Reference Library

plaque inside building at top of stairway directly facing entrance

13 subjects commemorated
Wheatsheaf pub

Wheatsheaf pub

Public house popular with London's Bohemian set in the 1930s, as were all the pubs in Fitzrovia, and beyond. Customers including George Orwell, Dylan Thomas, Edwin Muir and Humphrey Jennings were k...

Building, Commerce, Food & Drink

2 memorials