A short walk down Midland Road from King’s Cross Station leads to one of London’s less known gems. The Hardy Tree.
Nestled inside the graveyard of St Pancras Old Church is a historical gem of London. The Hardy tree was created in 1865 when the graveyard had to be cleared to make way for railways. A young Thomas Hardy was tasked with exhuming the bodies and they were then moved elsewhere. The gravestones were piled against an ash tree in a circular pattern. Over many years, as the tree grew, it seemed to look as if the tree had swallowed up some of the gravestones, creating a unique look that later became an iconic, yet little known, landmark. Thomas Hardy even went on to mention it in his writing, along with other writers.
The tree itself is beautiful, having inspired aspects of many works of literature, but it also holds an eerie and almost haunting air (fitting as it is set apart by the gravestones piled against it) and especially so when visiting in the early evening. An awe-inspiring reminder of the power of nature yet a saddening tribute to all those whose graves were disturbed in the name of development. The atmosphere is quiet and very peaceful, despite the railways going by and there are never many people about, so it is relatively empty. It is surprising that such a beautiful place is not more visited.
Unfortunately, the tree has recently been fenced off. Where you used to be able to get right up to the tree, you can now only get within a few metres, although this has been for the protection of the tree so that it can survive for as long as possible. Surprisingly enough, the fence does not disrupt the atmosphere as much as one would think, and it is possible to admire this iconic beauty from a distance. Even so, it is a shame that you can no longer see the Hardy tree up close.
It seems like a place you could pop into when you remember or get the time but due to recent events, this is not the case. This summer a ‘mysterious fungus’ was said to have been found at the roots of the tree and we can’t be sure how long it will survive. This tree may have been the only thing keeping the memory of the deceased buried in this graveyard alive. Without it, these people may have been forgotten decades ago. Once it is gone, people may no longer have reason to remember. The Hardy tree is dying, but are there enough people who care?
If nothing else, this is a great spot to take photos or tell your friends ghost stories. A dying gem of London with a great atmosphere and history that has the power to inspire works of art and literature that everyone should get the opportunity to see at least once.
