The history of the Groaning Tree is this. About forty years ago, a
cottager, who lived near the center of the village (Badesley, near
Lymington), heard frequently a strange noise behind his house, like that
of a person in extreme agony. Soon after it caught the attention of his
wife, who was then confined to her bed. She was a timorous woman, and
being greatly alarmed, her husband endeavored to persuade her that the
noise she heard was only the bellowing of the stags in the forest. By
degrees, however, the neighbors on all sides heard it, and the thing
began to be much talked of. It was by this time plainly discovered that
the groaning noise proceeded from an elm, which grew at the end of the
garden. It was a young, vigorous tree, and, to all appearance, perfectly
sound.
In a few weeks the fame of the groaning tree was spread far and wide,
and people from all parts flocked to it. Among others, it attracted the
curiosity of the late Prince and Princess of Wales,[12] who resided, at
that time for the advantage of a sea-bath, at Pilewell, the seat of Sir
James Worsley, which stood within a quarter of a mile of the groaning
tree.
Though the country people assigned many superstitious causes for this
strange phenomenon, the naturalist could assign no physical one that was
in any degree satisfactory. Some thought that it was owing to the
twisting and friction of the roots. Others thought it proceeded from
water, which had collected in the body of the tree—or perhaps from pent
air. But no cause that was alleged appeared equal to the effect. In the
mean time the tree did not always groan—sometimes disappointing
its visitants; yet no cause could be assigned for its temporary
cessations, either from seasons or weather. If any difference was
observed, it was thought to groan least when the weather was wet, and
most when it was clear and frosty; but the sound at all times seemed to
arise from the root.
Thus the groaning tree continued an object of astonishment during the
space of eighteen or twenty months, to all the country around; and for
the information of distant parts a pamphlet was drawn up containing a
particular account of all the circumstances relating to it.
At length the owner of it, a gentleman of the name of Forbes, making too
rash an experiment to discover the cause, bored a hole in its trunk.
After this it never groaned. It was then rooted up, with a further view
to making a discovery; but still nothing appeared which led to any
investigation of the cause. It was universally, however, believed that
there was no trick in the affair, but that some natural cause really
existed, though never understood.