Lumberjacks of Braunton: north Devon villagers gather to cut down their celebrated 'Cross Tree' to make way for a better road system.

Join the community of the north Devon village of Braunton as they come together to cut down the 'Cross Tree' which stood at the crossroads of their village for over three centuries. Watch as a trench is dug around its roots and a rope placed around its trunk; tractor power is then employed to pull the tree down. An act done to make way for the rise of the motorcar.

The Cross Tree was a 300-year old elm which stood at the site of the old Saxon East Cross in Braunton, North Devon. For three centuries it was the centre of village life from entertainment and meetings of the Parish Council to a marketplace. The Dancing Elms of Devon were also the centrepiece for May Day festivities. Other Cross Tree Elms were known to have existed at Moretonhampstead and South Tawton. Today, they are marked by a plaque.