2076 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



The Tisburt/ Yew. " In the churchyard of Tisbury, in Dorsetshire, there 

 is now standing, and in fine foliage, although the trunk is quite hollow, an 

 immense yew tree, which measures 37 ft. in circumference, and the limbs are 

 proportionably large. The tree is entered by means of a rustic gate; and 

 seventeen persons lately breakfasted in its interior. It is said to have been 

 planted, many generations ago, by the Arundel family." {Lauder's Gilpin.^ 



The Iffiey Yew stands in lifley churchyard, near Oxford, nearly opposite 

 the south-east corner of the church, and between that and an ancient cross. 

 This tree is supposed to be coeval with the church, which, it is believed, was 

 built previously to the Norman conquest. The dimensions of the tree, kindly 

 taken for us in September, 1836, by Mr. Baxter, were as follows : — Girt of 

 the trunk, at 2 ft. from the ground, 20 ft., and at 4 ft. from the ground, where 

 the branches begin, 17 ft. The trunk is now little more than a shell, and 

 there is an opening on the east side of the tree which is 4 ft. high, and about 

 4 ft. in width ; the cavity within is 7 ft. long, 4 ft. wide, and 4 ft. high in the 

 highest part. The height of the tree is 22 ft.; and there are about 20 principal 

 branches, all of which, except two, are in a very vigorous and flourishing 

 state. The diameter of the head is 25 ft. each way. A very good, but very 

 small, figure of this tree may be seen in the south-west view of Iffley church, 

 given in the Memorials of Oxford, No. 31. It is also seen in a woodcut of 

 the north-east view, close to the corner of the chancel, in the same work. 



A large Yeiv Hedge in the Oxford Botanic Garden, which was rooted up in 

 1834, had its branches crossing each other in various directions, and so com- 

 pletely inosculated, that after the hedge was cut down, they were formed, 

 without nailing, into the backs of rustic garden chairs, and similar articles ; 

 several of which are now preserved in the botanic garden. 



The Ankerwylce Yew, near Staines, of which a figure is given by Strutt, is 

 supposed to be upwards of 1000 years old. Henry VIII. was said to have 

 made it his place of meeting with Anna Boleyn, while she was living at 

 Staines ; and Magna Charta was signed within sight of it, on the island in 

 the Thames between Runnymede and Ankerwyke. The girt of this tree, at 

 3 ft. from the ground, is 27 ft. 8 in. ; and at 8 ft. it is 32 ft. 5 in. ; it then 

 throws out five principal branches, and at 12 ft. numerous others, which form 

 a magnificent head, 49 ft, 6 in. high, and 69 ft. in diameter. The following 

 lines on this tree are quoted by Strutt : — 



" What scenes have pass'd, since first this ancient yew. 

 In all the strength of youthful beauty grew I 



Here too, the tyrant Henry felt love's flame, 

 And, sighing, breathed his Anna Boleyn's name. 

 Beneath the shelter of this yew tree's shade 

 The royal lover woo'd the ill-starr'd maid : 

 And yet that neck, round which he fondly hung. 

 To hear the thrilling accents of her tongue ; 

 That lovely breast, on which his head reclined, 

 Form'd to have humanised his savage mind ; 

 Were doom'd to bleed beneath the tyrant's steel. 

 Whose selfish heart could doat, but could not feel." 



The Arlington, or Harlington, Yew stands in the churchyard of the village 

 of that name, between Brentford and Ilounslow. It is chiefly remarkable 

 for its large size, and for having once been clipped into the regular form shown 

 mfg. 1986. This engraving is copied from a print of the tree, as it appeared 

 in November, 1729; and this print is accompanied by a copy of verses by 

 " Poet John Saxy," from which it appears that it nuist at that time iiave 

 been between 50 ft. and 60 ft. in height. It was surrounded at the bottom 

 of its trunk by a wooden seat, above which, at 10 ft. from the ground, was a 

 large circular canopy, formed by the tree itself, which was, according to 

 " Poet Saxy " (who was clerk of the parish), — 



" So thick, so fine, so full, so wide, 

 A troop of guards might under it ride."' 



Ten feet above this canopy was another, of much smaller dimensions ; and 



