Did the Oak get blown down by a storm? The Monthly Repository printed the following which suggested the tree was chopped down for its wood.

"APOSTROPHE TO FAIRLOP OAK by R.H.H.

REANIMATOR of dead years,         

Forgotten-gone-

Who callest up their long arrears!     

And back they're flown!

Too stern art thou for human tears,     

Whate'er be shown!

For in thine old and iron power         

Thou hold'st an empire o'er the hour,     

Tho' scath'd and batter'd by the blast   

Of elements, for ages past,           

Rock-like thou stand'st, and gaunt to see,

The scorn of Time - Time scorn'd by thee!

*As this Noah of trees is now no more, it may be said that the last line becomes subject to the moral of 'beware of presumption.' Perhaps so, but it happens prematurely. The grand old oak had not fair play. It was not destroyed by the elements, or by age. A parcel of fellows, with the souls of toymen, cut it down to make waggon loads of snuff-boxes. Fine sound wood!"