SYLVAN GIANTS. 309 



feet in girth, the girth above the swell being 

 eleven feet.' 



Yews also claim a place amongst sylvan giants. 

 Sir T. D. Lauder mentioned, in 1834, the Yew tree 

 at Ankerwyke House, near Staines, supposed to 

 be then 1000 years old, the diameter of which, as 

 given by Mr. Strutt, was twenty-seven feet eight 

 inches at three feet from the ground, and thirty- 

 two feet five inches at eight feet from the ground. 

 ' Above this it throws out five principal limbs, 

 which are respectively, five feet five inches, six 

 feet ten inches, five feet seven inches, five feet 

 seven inches, and five feet nine inches in girth. 

 Above these branches the trunk measures twenty- 

 eight feet eight inches in girth. At twelve feet 

 from the ground branches spring forth in every 

 direction, forming a magnificent umbrageous head 

 forty-nine feet six inches high, and extending 

 207 feet.' The Dibden Yew, in the New Forest, 

 referred to by Gilpin, was thirty feet in girth 

 above the roots. One at Crowhurst was also 

 thirty feet in girth, whilst one at Braburne 

 Churchyard, Kent, was sixty feet in girth, and 

 Evelyn reported that near Winchester there was 



