298 A MANUAL OF THE CONIFER2E. 



The Fountains Abbey Yews, in Yorkshire, are very aged. The 

 Abbey was founded in 1132. The monks are said to haye taken 

 shelter under the Yews growing on the declivity of the hill while 

 the building was in progress. 



In the churchyard of Overton, in Flintshire, is a very ancient 

 Yew, now fast going to decay. The trunk, quite hollow, is upwards 

 of 30 feet in circumference at 3 feet from the ground. 



Among the fine old Yews in Gresford churchyard, in Derbyshire, 

 is one supposed to be over a thousand years old. The circum- 

 ference of the trunk at 5 feet from the ground is 29 feet, and 

 the height of the tree upwards of 60 feet. 



In the churchyard of Darley, in Derbyshire, is a venerable tree, 

 30 feet in circumference. The trunk, which is hollow, is only 

 regular and straight to about 10 feet from the ground when it 

 divides into several large limbs, two of which are erect and the 

 others spreading. It is a female or berry-bearing tree, and believed 

 to be upwards of one thousand two hundred and fifty years old. 



In the churchyard of Tisbury, in Dorsetshire, is an enormous 

 Yew tree whose trunk is 37 feet in circumference. It is quite 

 hollow, and the interior is entered by means of a rustic gate. 



The Crowhurst Yew, on the borders of Kent and Surrey, not 

 far from Edenbridge, is one of the largest, and probably one of 

 the oldest, in England. It is still flourishing. The inside is hollow, 

 and has been fitted up with a table "in the centre and benches 

 around it for as many as sixteen persons.* 



Other very ancient Yews are to be seen at Hurstmonceaux, in 

 Sussex ; at Withycombe, in Devonshire ; at Marden, in Hereford- 

 shire ; at Manhilad, near Monmouth ; on the North Downs, near 

 Guildford, in Surrey, &c.f 



The association of the Yew with early English History is varied and 

 important. Venerable trees still mark the spots where great events 

 have taken place, and others are associated with the names of historic 

 personages. The Ankerwyke Yew, near Staines, witnessed the con- 

 ference between King John and the English Barons in 1215, and in 

 sight of which Magna Charta was .signed. It is 27$ feet in circum- 

 ference, and most probably its age exceeds one thousand years old. 

 Under the Loudon Yew, in Ayrshire, it is said that Bruce bestowed 

 the ancient castle and estate on the Loudon family, and on the same 

 spot, some centuries afterwards, John, Earl of Loudon, signed the Act 

 of Union between England and Scotland. This tree is over 40 feet 

 high, with a trunk 4£ feet in diameter at 12 feet from the ground. 



* Science Gossip, 1874. 



+ The above are a few instances selected from many. The reader desirous of further 

 information should refer to Loudon's Arb. et Frut., pp. 2073—2082; to the pages of 

 Science Gossip, for 1873-4-5 ; the Gardeners' Chronicle, &c. 



