The Crowhurst (Sussex) Yew

[poliphilo]

There are two villages called Crowhurst- one in Sussex, one in Surrey. Both have churches dedicated to St George and both churchyards contain ancient yews.

This is the Sussex yew. It's hard to date but was most probably planted in the 8th century. It was already 300 years old when the Battle of Hastings was fought nearby.

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Just stunning! :o)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's hollow, but otherwise seems to be in good health. It should be good for many more centuries.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

What a beauty! All those little knots and crevices - it must be a favourite with the local wrens...

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Such huge trees amaze me. Planted in the 8th century! What a gorgeous tree.

[nineweaving.livejournal.com]

Magnificent. And hale.

Nine

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

What glorious trees!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Wrens: I hadn't thought of that. I adore wrens...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

This one is older than the church it sits beside- suggesting this was a sacred site of long standing.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There's a photograph taken in the late 19th century that suggests the tree is in better health now than it was then.

Aubrey visited it in the 1690s and measured it. It is slightly bigger now, but not so you'd notice.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed!