Felling of the Jubilee tree on Norton Green. 1987. (Photo courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron)
Jubilee tree on Norton Green. 1987
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Felling of the Jubilee tree on Norton Green. 1987. (Photo courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron)
This tree, its hoop-iron seat made by the blacksmith opposite, was a feature of the Green for over 150 years. The tree itself was over 250 years old and was called the Jubilee tree as Royal occasions from the 1800s onwards saw it decked from tree to Forge with “Patriotic-Arches”. The last occasion being the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria 1897. Despite attempts by Stockton Borough Council to preserve it with injections and monitoring , the tree became a victim of “Dutch Elm” disease”, as did 70% of the village elms. This disease destroyed many trees throughout the U.K. The Jubilee tree was felled at 08:30 on Sept 9th 1987. A vigorous tree planting programme started in 1989 will ensure that, by the middle of the 21st Century, Norton will have its mid 20th century tree cover back.