During the Tudor period that ran from 1485 to 1603 around the death of Queen Elizabeth I, the English oak tree (Quercus robur) was a well recognised symbol of national strength, stability, and longevity, reflecting the era's burgeoning sense of English cultural identity. This period was marked by significant political and social transformations, including the consolidation of the monarchy, religious reformation and the break from Rome, and the beginning of England's naval dominance.

The English oak tree was central to the Tudor navy, a key factor in England's rise as a formidable maritime power. The robust and durable wood of the oak was ideal for building ships, including the famous Mary Rose, Henry VIII's warship. Oak timber provided the structural integrity needed to withstand the rigors of the sea, making it indispensable for shipbuilding. This association with naval strength elevated the oak as a symbol of England's burgeoning naval prowess and imperial ambitions.

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Oak wood was also used in Tudor architecture. Its strength and durability made it a preferred material for building the iconic timber-framed houses of the period, many of which still stand today. The oak beams and panels of these structures were not only functional but also symbolized the wealth and status of the people that lived in them, as oak was a valuable and prized resource.

Not only this, but the Oak tree featured heavily in literature, heraldry, and folklore. The oak was frequently depicted in Tudor iconography, including royal emblems and coats of arms, a motif denoting the power of the monarchy.

The Tudor period also saw the oak tree become entwined with the legend of Herne the Hunter, a ghostly figure said to haunt Windsor Forest. This folklore, blending ancient and contemporary elements, reflected the oak's deep roots in English cultural consciousness.

There is one particular Oak tree that is significant to the period, the remains of which we can still see today. Famous for having courted Tudor royalty, it was named after the virgin Queen Elizabeth I and stood within the grounds of the Palace of Placentia, now Greenwich Park, London. Folklore tells us that Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn danced beneath this tree in their happy, early years, and then their daughter Elizabeth I spent days picnicking underneath its branches. 

Although the tree no longer stands proud and tall, we still have its remnants of an era past to remind us of the generations of people whose lives it bore witness to.

Inside the tree's enclosure is a sign that reads:

This ancient tree known as Queen Elizabeth’s Oak.

It has traditions linking it with Queen Elizabeth I, King Henry VIII and his Queen Anne Boleyn, it may also have been a lock-up for offenders against park rules.

It died in the late 19th Century and a strong growth of ivy supported it until it collapsed in June 1991.