BOSCOBEL, a district (extra-parochial), in the Hales-
Owen division of the hundred of BRIMSTREE, county of
SALOP, 7 miles (E.) from ShifFnall, containing 30 inhabitants.
Boscobel House is celebrated in history as the
place where Charles II. concealed himself in September,
1651, after the disastrous battle of Worcester, secure
in the incorruptible integrity of five brothers, named
Penderell: the house has been considerably modernised,
but the place of concealment, called the Sacred Hole, is
carefully preserved, and in front of the house is a Latin
inscription, traced with white pebbles in the pavement,
recording the circumstance. The Royal Oak, thought
to have sprung from an acorn of the parent tree,
among the branches of which the unfortunate monarch
retired for greater security, when his .pursuers were
searching the house and out-buildings, stands near the
middle of a large field adjoining the garden; it is surrounded
by an iron railing, and has an inscribed brass
plate affixed to it.