Skeletons are believed to dance beneath an old haunted Sussex oak tree once a year. The Midsummer tree stands firm on a patch of green next to Grove Lodge roundabout in Worthing and is said to have been there for more than 300 years. Nestled in the surrounding grass is a small plaque which signals the tree’s prominent position in local folklore.
Legend says that every year on Midsummer’s Eve, June 23, skeletons would rise from the roots of the tree and dance underneath it. The plaque states: "This tree, believed to be over 300 years old, was once celebrated in local folklore. Every year, at Midnight on Midsummer's Eve, it was believed that skeletons would rise up from its roots and dance to the rattling of their own bones until daybreak.
" (Image: The Argus) In 2006, The Argus reported that the tree was under threat of felling by the Highways Agency as it was suffering from brown cubical rot. Officers feared that the disease would degrade the timber and lead to it falling over. READ MORE: Museum fights to keep rare Anglo-Saxon treasure in region where it was discovered However, following a campaign by neighbours and folklorists, the tree was saved by conservationist Chris Hare.
At the time, Chris said: “This tree is a vital part of Worthing's heritage. “The origin of the Midsummer Tree is to be found in England's pagan past, when Midsummer, rather than Halloween, was viewed as the most auspicious time to commune with the spirit world." The tale, passed down through wor.
