PARKS bosses are considering setting up a permanent tribute to the “people’s poet” William Shakespeare after reading a story in the New Journal.

The plan – which can be revealed following the Bard’s 450th anniversary yesterday (Wednesday) – was triggered by a story last August. The opera director Sir Jonathan Miller had raised concerns that a plaque beneath an oak tree in the park had not been replaced.

Research in the Camden archives found the plaque had told the story of the planting of “Shakespeare’s Oak”, a remarkable and yet largely forgotten piece of Camden history, when more than 100,000 people came to Primrose Hill to mark Shakespeare’s 300th anniversary in 1864.

The tree died but was replanted 100 years later, on April 23, 1964, by actress Dame Edith Evans at a smaller event organised by Society for Theatre Research (STR).

The replacement tree in Regent's Park

STR Secretary Eileen Cottis, who was at the 1964 ceremony, said that Royal Parks Agency managers had been in touch about planting a new tree or setting up some kind of lasting tribute. She said: “We were happy to give him some information, and we await further developments with interest.”

In 1864, reports in the Observer said more than 100,000 people attended a celebration on what would have been Shakespeare’s 300th birthday. 

The tree was planted by actor Samuel Phelps and  Chartist poet Eliza Cooke, who read out a specially written ode reclaiming the Bard’s work from the privileged elite.

It said: 

With Labour’s sweet drop – England’s richest gem.

Here do the people laud Fame’s greatest son.

Bearing her scroll – to match our worshipped one

Here do the people write with blazing pen:

Shakespeare was born of England’s Working Men.

Newspapers reported at the time called for the park to be renamed “Shakespeare Hill” following the extraordinary high turnout at the event, which was organised by the Shakespeare Working­men’s Committee.

A plaque telling the story of Primrose Hill’s “Shakespeare Oak” has been missing for years but the Royal Parks Agency, which manages the park, say they cannot replace it.

Ms Cottis found the original inscription on the plaque: “SHAKESPEARE OAK. Planted by Dame Edith Evans, D.B.E., for the Society for Theatre Research on April 23rd, 1964, to commemorate the Shakespeare Quatercentenary and to replace the oak planted by Samuel Phelps nearby on April 23rd, 1864”, in bright colours on a black background.

Artist’s impression of the 1864 crowds who flocked to pay tribute to the Bard

A Royal Parks Agency spokesman said there were no finalised plans to mark the Shakespeare Tree but a replacement plaque was not an option, adding: “The plaque was stolen many years ago and we have no plans to replace it. Our policy is not to have plaques marking trees as they tend to get vandalised or stolen.”