Visiting Old Knobbley (an Ancient Oak) and Julie's House

Old Knobbley

I'm not having a holiday this year - and I'm starting to miss going away just about now, when the weather's very hot and I feel like an excuse to not do very much with the day. Perhaps it's also because the garden and the trees are looking a bit tired in the heat and in need of some pepping up, too. We had a brief glimpse here of autumn just last weekend, with strong winds and a bit of rain, and although it passed very quickly it does feel like summer is coming to an end. So I think I'm ready to go away, have a break and then come back and look at the smallholding with fresh eyes, ready for a new season.

But that's not going to happen. Instead of a holiday, David and I are having a handful of days out. It's not the same of course, but it is an excuse to go somewhere different for the day, to relax and to have a good lunch! We had the first of these days at the very end of July, and we spent part of it visiting Old Knobbley and Julie's house.

These two couldn't be more different from each other. Old Knobbley is an ancient oak, about 600-800 years old, and Julie's house is...well...a modern house (or piece of art depending on your view). But they're geographically very close to each other in north Essex, so both can be visited in a couple of hours.

Old Knobbley's trunk, close up.

Old Knobbley is a wonderful tree. Like other ancient oaks, it's losing its heartwood and it looks like it may have been hollowed out by a fungus (essentially it's been eaten from the inside).  It was pollarded in its youth and has survived a fire at one time. It's also surrounded by other trees and so there's a danger that these will crowd it out and stop it receiving the sunlight it needs to survive. Fortunately, the local community and the local council are aware of this (there are many people caring for this special tree). Old Knobbley is a local celebrity; it has its own website and Facebook page, a book has been written about it and numerous paintings made of it. It has also come second in a 'Britain's favourite tree' contest.

I love oaks (who doesn't?) and all ancient trees, and I'd long wanted to see this one. If Old Knobbley is 800 years old, then it came from an acorn dropped in the early Middle Ages, perhaps around the time the Magna Carta was being signed. I find that incredible.

Julie's House

After visiting the ancient and gnarled Old Knobbley, we went to see the shiny and new Julie's house - a fantasy house created by artist Grayson Perry. Grayson Perry is Essex born and bred, and has created a back-story for the house based around a fictional Essex woman called Julie. It's been described as a shrine, a secular chapel, a folly, a fairy-tale house and a 'ginger bread' house.

It has artwork inside, which unfortunately we didn't see as it's closed to visitors. So we just had a good look at the outside of the house. This is covered in images that look like ancient female fertility statuettes. I did think it missed something - and realised that this was Grayson Perry himself. Really, he should have been there to explain it all!

I've no idea if the house would be practical to live in (people have been able to enter a ballot to stay in it as a holiday home). I imagine, from photos I've seen of the decor, it's a bit loud to say the least. It won't age as beautifully as Old Knobbley has done and I wonder if it will it last as long? I do like, though, the wild meadow garden to one side (or is it the front?) which should be great for pollinators.

In any case, it's certainly a fun house for today; truly eccentric and very unique.