_Gospel Oaks_ (Vol. ii., p. 407.; Vol. v., p. 157.).--BURIENSIS
complains that "the inquiry of STEPHEN has not elicited one answer, nor
one additional note of other trees designated as _Gospel Oaks_." I
conjecture that the cause of this silence is, that the oaks so called
have long since perished. In this neighbourhood there are two iron-works
situated near the boundary of the parishes of Tipton and Wednesbury,
which are called respectively _Gospel Oak_ Works and Wednesbury _Oak_
Works. The tradition respecting the name of _Gospel Oak_ is, that it was
so called in consequence of it having been the practice in ancient times
to read under a tree which grew there, a portion of the Gospels on the
annual perambulation of the bounds of the parish on Ascension Day. That
_Gospel Oak_ and Wednesbury _Oak_ marked the boundary line of the
parishes of Tipton and Wednesbury is highly probable.