On Ash Wednesday, 17th February 1836 an ancient ash tree in St Michael’s Churchyard was blown down. It was known as the Boome Tree, perhaps after Middle Low German bōm (“tree”). It was supposed to have been planted in the Reign of Henry IV (1399 to 1413).
Although it looked sound, there were no roots and the churchyard was not distrubed when it fell. The wood was auctioned a few days later.