The Oaks of Avalon is the collective name given to a pair of ancient oak trees, Gog and Magog, that stand in Glastonbury in Somerset, South West England. The trees were named after the ancient apocalyptic figures Gog and Magog.[1]
The trees are believed to have been originally part of a ceremonial avenue towards the Glastonbury Tor, the avenue was cut down in 1906 to make way for a farm, with the timber being sold to J. Snow & Son, a local timber merchant.[2] At the time of the 1906 felling of the avenue one of the oak trees was measured at 11ft in diameter and had more than 2000 season growth rings.[1] [3] A historically based belief has Joseph of Arimathea following the row of trees towards the tor upon his arrival in Albion.[4]
In April 2017, though already dead, Gog was badly damaged by fire from a candle. The fire is believed to been accidental, and was put out by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.[5] [6]