Standing alone beside a roundabout on Clifton Downs, there is an unnaturally white tree. Hundreds of people see it every day but the reason why it is painted white is most likely a mystery to many of them.
The tree itself is actually the third to serve the purpose of the “Downs’ White Tree”, the first of which was being painted at least as early on as the mid-19th century.
This tree was felled in 1951 to make way for the nearby roundabout (appropriately named White Tree Roundabout in honour of the original) and a replacement was planted near to where the current tree stands.
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However, this second tree suffered the same fate as most of Europe’s elm trees and fell victim to the Dutch elm disease epidemic of the 1970s/80s.
The current tree, a lime, was planted soon afterwards.
But why is its trunk painted white? One often repeated theory suggests that a local man, known for throwing lavish parties painted this tree as a marker so that guests could find his house.
Another tells the tale of a man who was prone to drinking in nearby pubs and painted it so he himself could find his way home in the twilight.
However, most historians believe the actual reason was a far more commercial one.
For centuries the Downs was a dangerous place at night, being the haunt of highwaymen and thieves and by the Victorian era its reputation became one of 'sinful vices' and was not the kind of area a respectable person was supposed to be after dark.
This tree was probably painted white as a marker for people arriving to Bristol via horse and coach, informing them that there was a nearby coaching inn, with stables and a bed to stay until the safety of morning.
Even though the tree itself may have been replaced twice, the custom of painting it annually has continued for many decades.
Since 2018, this task has been the responsibility of volunteers from the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge.
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