The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens
Kensington Gardens in the heart of London is perhaps best known for its associations with the Peter Pan story, but should you take a wander through the park you will find a very unusual tree.
The Elfin Oak is a gargantuan, gnarled, partially hollow stump that is home to Faeries, Elves, Gnomes and their animal companions. The tree shows the world of the Little People at work and play. When you see Wookey the Witch; Grumples and Groodle the Elves; Huckleberry, Dinkie, Rumplelocks and their friends you can believe they really are living there, and will resume their activities just as soon as no one is looking.
Children’s book illustrator, Ivor Innes, began work on the Elfin Oak in 1911, and continued to sculpt and maintain the Oak for over 40 years. Originally in Richmond Park, the Oak was thought to be at least 800 years old when Innes began work in it. Standing at nearly nine feet high, ‘stump’ doesn’t really do the Oak justice, but as it has long since lost all its branches, ‘tree’ can not describe the Oak either. The brightly coloured Faeries, Elves and animals found on the Oak are mostly carved straight from the wood itself, while others are cast in plaster.
In 1930 Ivor, along with his wife Elsie Innes, published a book entitled ‘The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens’. In it, he describes how “for centuries now it has been the home of fairies, gnomes, elves, imps, and pixies. In the nooks and crannies they lurk, or peer out of holes and crevices, their natural windows and doorways. It is their hiding-place by day, their revelry place by night, and when the great moon tops the bare branchless tree the Elfin Clans come out to play and frolic in the moonlight.” (Elsie Innes, The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens, Frederick Warne & Co, 1930)
The Oak was moved to Kensington Gardens as part of a redevelopment in 1928, and still stands in its original place in front of the children’s playground near the Black Lion Gate. You can’t miss it, as it is now unfortunately surrounded by a large mesh cage (presumably to protect it from un-Faerie friendly passers by and marauding squirrels). The Little Folk are still in good shape too, largely thanks to the late comedian Spike Milligan, who raised funds in both the Sixties and more recently in 1997 to have the Oak restored. English Heritage put forward a recommendation that the Oak be added to the list of buildings of special architectural or historical interest shortly after, a list usually reserved for people-sized buildings. This surely makes the Oak one of the most important Faery residences in the United Kingdom.
Despite the fence, the Oak still manages to delight young and old alike. The pennies scattered around the base of the Oak are testament to the many wishes wished – and who knows – possibly even granted by one of the Little Folk who make their home in the tree. While the view of Faeries it portrays is firmly rooted in the Victorian romantic fancy, it is still quite charming, and well worth a visit if you find yourself in London.
A version of this article first appeared in Faerie Magazine (Spring 2005)
