Rufforth

Nearest town: York

Site type: footpath/road

Access: Public

Church name: No Data

Diocese: No Data

County: Yorkshire - North

Country: England

Grid ref: SE527517

Lost yew site: Yes

Date visited: 30-Apr-12

Recorded by: Tim Hills

Protection & responsibility: Landowner

Yews recorded at this site: Lost, Notable

Notes: In Trees of the British Isles in history & legend by JH Wilks (1972) is the following: 'In the village of Rufforth, near York, yews were planted in a field adjoining the churchyard in 1644 to commemorate the local men who died at the Battle of Marston Moor. Thirteen yews still remain'. This number has been reduced to six as several were presumably felled to make space for building the Primary School, Community Centre and houses in Yew Tree Close. I was informed that an archaeological survey was carried out prior to building, but it failed to uncover evidence of burials. While girth of these trees might not suggest an age of over 360 years, the story is well known and the information features in the Village Development Plan. If they were planted in 1644 they are very slow growing trees.