The White Tree

The White Tree was the cause of some controversy in local newspapers in the 1920s (the original tree was cut down in 1950 to make room for the roundabout). All agreed that the tree, on the Cote side of the road had its trunk painted white in the 1850s or 60s. However there have been disagreements over who was responsible for the painting. It was perhaps Mr. George Ames who lived at Cote House and painted the tree white to help his children's German tutor; he walked across the Downs at night to teach pupils in Clifton and frequently lost his way; or Alderman Gardiner's father who lived at Sunnyside on the corner of Etloe Road and had it painted to help friends know where to turn off the Downs for his house; or Mr. Woodward who rented Cote House for a few years and had it done to help his coachman who sometimes came home drunk.

The present tree is the third 'white tree'. It was donated and planted by the St Oswald's Monday Afternoon Fellowship for the elderly, associated with St Albans Church. A young lime tree was selected by Bristol City Council experts, and St Oswald's fellowship raised the money to pay for it by holding bring and buy sales. The tree was planted on January 28th 1974 in a ceremony attended by members of the fellowship, the Lady Mayoress Mrs Mercia Castle, the vicar of St Albans Canon John Smith, members of the Downs committee, and pupils from Westbury Park School.