Fagus Sylvatica Dawyck—-The Dawyck Beech
This columnar tree grew as a chance sapling at Dawyck in Peebleshire in Scotland at the home of Colonel Balfour, a cousin of J F Roxburgh who was the first headmaster of Stowe School taking up the post in 1923. Like Balfour, Roxburgh originated from Scotland but was to stay at Stowe for 26 years (1949) until his retirement. Prior to this post his first teaching job was at Lancing College in Sussex where he taught a young Evelyn Waugh. At Stowe one of his first students was David Niven.
The first 36 Dawyck Beeches were planted on the drive from Lamport to the Gothic Temple in 1941 and since then more have been added and there are approximately now 68 in total. In collaboration with Colonel Balfour more beeches were planted near the Doric Arch in March 1944 leading towards the Temple of Ancient Virtue and another single one in the nursery beside the Pineapple Hut and a further 5 planted by the road to Roxburgh Hall.
Michael Hunt is trying to locate these beeches to see if they still exist, yet another project in this new year 2025
