198 Yew-Trees of Great Britain and Ireland 



' The trunk is hollow, and measures 3 feet 6 

 inches across inside ; it is this width for 10 feet 

 (and will hold twenty-one men standing upright) ; 

 notwithstanding the hollow trunk the tree is to all 

 appearance healthy, and every year throws out new 

 wood.' 



The size of the tree was recorded in 1 780, when 

 it measured — 



At base 

 At 4 feet 



32 feet 2 inches 



19 M o >> 



In 1833 it was again measured — 



At base ..... 36 feet 

 At 4 feet . . . . . 22 ,, 



' Church Preen was a cell of Wantock Abbey ; 

 the present manor-house stands on the site of the 

 priory.' 



There are some very noteworthy points in these 

 measurements which are not often so clearly brought 

 into view. First, the difference betwixt the girth 

 at the base, and that at 4 feet from the ground, 

 amounting to no less than 18 feet 8 inches. We 

 have here distinct evidence that the top was broken 

 at an early period, and probably on several occa- 



