Page-Tree Coppice

The Page-Tree Coppice is a stand of Page Trees within the grounds of the Concent of Saunt Edhar, on the rise between the Decade Gate and the Century Gate. It lies on the route from the meadow inside the walls, across the bridge, to Shuf’s Dowment.

First Appearance and Context

It is first described as a walkable coppice after harvest, when branches are largely bare and fallen leaves litter the ground. From near its eastern side, the ruin of Shuf’s Dowment can be seen in plain sight.

Roles/Actions and Affiliations

• Approach: Serves as the habitual path to and from Shuf’s Dowment for avout crossing the river.
• Harvest setting: The stand supplies leaves used to make pages; selection and drying work occur seasonally among these trees (see Page Trees for process details).

Descriptions/Characteristics

• Terrain and setting: Situated between the Decade and Century gates on a rise across the river from the concent’s meadow.
• Boundary traces: In places a low stone wall masked by vines marks an old boundary, attributed to Shuf’s Lineage; much of it has broken down and been overgrown.

Current Status/Location

An actively tended stand used both for page‑leaf work and as the footpath to Shuf’s Dowment; accessible from within the concent by crossing the bridge and passing through the trees.