Judas Tree in blossom
VISITORS to Alfriston Clergy House can once more experience the annual delight of the Judas Tree blossoming in May.
The Judas Tree was planted in the garden by the National Trust's first tenant Sir Robert Witt soon after the Clergy House was purchased in 1896.
It has beautiful rose pink flowers and pods that ripen to purple in the autumn. The tree was
damaged in the great storm of 1987 when a large evergreen tree fell and damaged the trunk
resulting in its present unusual shape.
There are many stories to the tree's name. The tree, a native of the Eastern Mediterranean and Southern Europe, is said to be the type in which Judas Iscariot hanged himself after betraying Christ and that the flowers turned pink to reflect Judas's blush of shame for his betrayal.
A more likely explanation is that the name is a corruption of 'Judaeo Tree' from the area in Israel where it is extremely common.
Admission to the Alfriston Clergy House is £3.70 for adults and £1.85 for children. (C)
The full article contains 180 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
14 May 2008 12:16 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Eastbourne
