Caton Oak

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The Caton Oak, also known as the Druid's Oak, was an ancient tree in Caton, Lancashire. It stood beside the Fish Stones, a set of old sandstone steps used by medieval monks to display salmon from the River Lune. The oak was long believed to date from the time of the Druids and was a central village landmark.

Over the years the tree remained a symbol of Caton. A 1905 photo shows it in good health, and in the 1940s a portable blacksmith’s forge operated beneath its branches to shoe horses for the village.

In the late 20th century the tree declined and was considered dangerous by 1996. It was saved when villagers and the parish council added metal supports to the branch in 1998, funded by the Parish Council, Lancashire County Council, Rural Action and public contributions.

By 2007 the trunk was hollow from decay, so an acorn from the Caton Oak was planted inside the hollow to grow a replacement tree. The new tree would grow within the old one. A sign near the tree said it was listed as a historic site.

Caton lies in the Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty, and the Caton Oak was a local symbol, even appearing in the logos of the village school and its sports club. The original Caton Oak fell on 20 June 2016.