Dule Tree
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dule or Dool trees in Britain were used as Gallows for public hangings (Rodger 2006). They were also used a 'Gibbets' for the display of the corpse for a considerable period of time after such hangings. These 'Trees of Lamentation or Grief' were usually growing in prominent positions or at busy thoroughfares, particularly at crossroads so that justice could be seen to have been done and as a salutary warning to others.
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[edit] Origins of the name
In Scots, Dule or Duill, also dole, dowle; dwle, dul, dull, duyl, duile, doile, doill, dewle, deull, and duel. In Middle English, dule, duyl, dulle, deul, dewle and variants of doole, dole, and dool. All these words mean sorrow, grief, or mental distress.
[edit] History
Also known as the 'Grief Tree', the 'Gallows Tree' and simply 'The Tree'. Such tree was also used by Highland Chieftains, who would hang their enemies or any deserter, murderer, etc. from the Dool Tree. Highland chiefs had the power of 'life or death' over their clansmen in times gone by. The high ground on which these trees grew often became known as 'Gallows Hill'.
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Medieval Song (sung in the round)
[edit] Surviving Examples
These trees were often close to the residence of the lord or clan chief and one of the best known Dule Trees, or 'Hanging Trees', stands within the grounds of Leith Hall, near Huntly, Aberdeenshire. This tree, a sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus), was used as a natural gibbet and a means for publicly carrying out feudal justice. The strong timber, not prone to snapping, of sycamore made this a favoured species for this purpose. Incidently, Sycamores used to be known as called 'Plane' trees in Scotland. Leith Hall dates from about 1650 and the tree was possibly planted shortly after this. A rather gaunt and heavily branched tree, the trunk measures 116cm in diameter.
At Cessnock Castle near Galston in East Ayrshire is a dule tree, a gnarled specimen of Castanea sativa - Sweet Chestnut.
The Dule tree at Cassillis Castle in South Ayrshire was blown down in a great storm during the winter of 1939-40 and when the rings on its trunk were counted, it was found to be about 200 years old. A new Dule tree, grown from a cutting taken from the old one, now stands on the original site. John or Johnny Faa, King of the Gypsies is said to have been hung from the Cassillis Dule Tree, together with some of his supporters (Robertson 1908).
The ancient sycamore that stands in the shadow of Blairquhan Castle, near Straiton, South Ayrshire is thought to be Dule Tee, planted early in the 16th century during the reign of King James V of Scotland. The moss-covered trunk has a girth of 5.6 metres (18 feet 4 inches), and is completely hollow, with only a very thin outer shell of sound wood supporting the tree. The once spreading crown was heavily pruned in 1997 in an effort to preserve the fragile shell and prevent the much-weakened trunk from total collapse. Vigorous new growth is now establishing a new, smaller crown.
Near the village of Logierait in Perthshire is the hollow ` Ash Tree of the Boat of Logierait, ' which, 63 feet in height and 40 in girth at 3 feet from the ground, is said to have been ` the dool tree of the district, on which caitiffs and robbers were formerly executed, and their bodies left hanging till they dropped and lay around unburied. '
An example may exist at Bargany in South Ayrshire where a European Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), may have served the purpose.
[edit] Local History
Place names are usually a fairly reliable source of information about past events and activities, as with names such as Gallowayford at Kennox House in North Ayrshire near Chapeltoun. It is known that a gallows was situated here, however it cannot be proved that a dule tree was involved. Law Mount is a common name for small earth mounds, frequently in prominent positions, such as the example near Lambroughton, Stewarton in North Ayrshire. Public hangings took place on these 'Laws' or 'Moot Hills', some of which are or were wooded. Gallows-Knowe in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire was the site of the gallows for the Baronial Court of the Boyds of Dean Castle.
Ghosts are frequently associated with Dule Trees which were used both as Gallows and Gibbets, such as at Gallow's Hill in Hertfordshire which has manifestations such as groaning timber, clanking chains and a man in grey (Hippisley Coxe 1973).
[edit] References
- Hippisley Coxe, Antony D. (1973). Haunted Britain. Pub. Hutchinson. ISBN 0-09-116540-7 P.99.
- Robertson, Wiliam (1908). Ayrshire. Its History & Historic Families. Vol.2. Grimsay Press. ISBN 1-84530-026-2 P. 25.
- Rodger, Donald, Stokes, John & Ogilve, James (2006). Heritage Trees of Scotland. The Tree Council. ISBN 0-904853-03-9
