The Corstorphine
            Sycamore Tree

The Sycamore Tree after the Storm

The Corstorphine Sycamore or Plane tree stood beside the Dovecot for over four centuries, possibly six, until it was finally blown down at 8.10pm in the strong winds of 26^th December 1998. This tree has the more unusual distinction because it does not produce seeds and can only be propagated from cuttings. It is also a botanical subspecies on its own giving its name to the species - Acer pseudoplatanus corstorphinensis. Its nearest daughter tree is at the gate way to the Old Parish Church, at the east end of the High Street.

Tradition credits its origin to a sapling brought from the East by a monk in the early 15^th century. It is more probable that it is a 16^th century relic of the avenue of trees that led to Corstorphine Castle. This avenue was an eastern approach to the castle from what is now Saughton Road and might be what Skene saw and painted in his watercolour titled "Near Corstorphin". It is also shown on the 1777 village map. Henry Forrester was interested in cultivating the castle gardens so he may have had the avenue planted as a pleasant approach to his modernisation of the old castle - his "New Wark".

A sister Sycamore Tree at the Old Parish Church

Besides its beauty, it also has the glamour of tragedy. The tree gained notoriety as the scene of the murder of Lord James Forrester on 26^th August 1679 by his mistress, and niece, Christian Nimmo. Her ghost is said still to haunt the tree. There are also legends of buried treasure, ghostly voices and no doubt many unrecorded incidents associated with this tree.

When the site was feued in 1870 for South Lodge the sycamore tree and the ground 16 feet in diameter around it were excluded. In 1955 the Edinburgh Corporation placed it under a Tree Preservation Order for its protection. Mr William Dickson W.S., the last Dickson laird of Corstorphine, gifted the tree and the ground about it to The Corstorphine Trust in 1970.

The White Lady  as sketched by Bob Mollison

The Sasine Ceremony 1970

At the handing over ceremony, on 22^nd April 1970, Mr Dickson passed the symbols of sasine (title) to the Chairman of the Corstorphine Trust, Dr E.A. Cormack, saying, "With this twig, earth, and stone I give you sasine of the Corstorphine sycamore tree". The Trust had the tree treated for a fungal infection and guyed in 1989. This would let the tree withstand a push of 500 tonnes during summer, when the tree’s canopy would be fully leaved.

When the tree blew down some of the wood was saved and made in to many souvenirs like bowls, egg cups, clocks, spirtles plaques and at least a couple of violins.  So many people now have a part of old Corstorphine.

The Sycamore Tree after the Storm