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 1945-Today:
Modern Kew
 The
Flagpole
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The Flagpole
The first large flagpole at Kew was erected in 1861. The mound
on which it stood was originally occupied by the Temple of Victory,
which was removed by William Hooker between 1841 and 1861. This
first flagpole was first patched, then repaired, and finally replaced
in 1919 with a second, taller, one presented by the Provincial
Government of British Columbia.
The last flagpole to stand on this site was removed in August
2007. Braced by twisted stranded steel hawsers set in concrete ground anchors,
it originally stood at 68.5 m (225 ft) and was the tallest wooden flagpole
in the world. It had been presented to Kew, again by by British Columbia,
to celebrate both the Canadian province's centenary (1958) and Kew's bicentenary
(1959).
The Douglas fir from Copper Canyon on Vancouver Island from
which it was made was around 370 years old when cut. It originally weighed
37 tonnes, but after being towed up the Thames and shaping at Kew, it was
a 'mere' 15 tonnes. It was erected by the 23rd Field Squadron of the Royal
Engineers on 5th November 1959.
However, the lifetime of a wooden pole at Kew is around 50
years, and not only decay, but also intensive woodpecker action had made
it unsafe. It was decided not to replace the flagpole with another because
it would mean the loss of yet another giant tree.
The Union Flag is now flown from a lesser flagpole close
to Victoria Gate on royal birthdays and anniversaries and on state occasions.
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Vista Zone
 On
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External
link:
Old photographs of the current flagpole being felled
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