This hawthorn tree was planted on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation, 2 June 1953.  It is located on the village green of Litte Urswick, known at that time as the school green.  The property seen in the photograph dates from 1585 and for 409 years was Urswick Grammar School established as a Free Grammar School by a charter authorised by Queen Elizabeth I.  The school was visited by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1985, marking its 400th anniversary.  The property has subsequently become a private dwelling, as seen in this photograph.  Its history and the once common local awareness of its exceptional rarity as an Elizabethan school that was bestowed on this tiny village by Royal Charter, together with its continuous use as a village school for over four centuries, are in serious danger of being lost.  This loss is attributable to the dramatic acceleration of social mobility since the end of WWII that has totally changed the former continuity and cohesion of rural communities.