Our first find is this Leper Oak. This Ancient tree is located on Hexham Golf Course so you have to be a member of the club or get permission to view this one.
It is one of the “Hexham Oaks” and prior to the 17th century the site where the current clubhouse sits was the Leper hospital administered by monks from Hexham Abbey. The clubhouse itself is known as “Spital House” with the word spital derived from the Latin hospitalis. Legend has it that local people from the area would leave food under the tree for the patients hence its name.
