Hurstbourne Tarrant

1895: Entries in the Parish Register note the planting of two yews. In 1895 it was recorded in Lowe’s Yew Trees of Great Britain and Ireland as follows; “At Hurstbourne Tarrant, near Andover, there are two yew-trees in the churchyard, one being 8 feet 4 inches, the other 7 feet 3 inches, in circumference. The Parish Register thus records their planting. Of the former it says: “The ewtree near to the vicar’s garden planted by Sam: Hoskins (vicar) in ye year 1693. It is thus a little over two hundred years old. The latter is 155 years old, as appears from the Register :-Memorandum: Oct.10, 1741. There was an yew-tree planted in the churchyard pretty near the outward rails. By the order and at the expense of James Wilkins, M.A. Vicar of this parish.”
1992: Baxter, in his book The Eternal Yew, writes as follows: “Here the parish register has been kept with great care; one entry of particular importance, records on October 10th 1741 the planting of two yew trees by the order and at the expense of James Wilkins MA, vicar of this parish. It is advantageous to have such clear documentary evidence of existing Yew trees. A visit on the 248th anniversary of their planting confirmed their excellent condition. Each with a girth of 9′ 2”, they are well-proportioned and situated in positions which enhance the setting of this beautiful church.”
1981 Allen Meredith: The tree WSW near outward wall measures 9ft 2 ins at 3ft and 9ft 5ins at 5ft.
The other tree looking slightly older on the SSW side of the church at 3ft from the ground the girth measured 9ft 2ins, at 5ft from the ground the girth measured 9ft 5ins, a strange coincidence, the NE side of this tree is a little decayed, a small elder growing from it.
2003 Tim Hills: I recorded these two yews on the south side of the church.
Tree 1: WSW a female tree, gall laden, but with thick rich foliage. Girth 9′ 6” at 3′, exactly 10′ at 2′ and 9′ 7” at 4′. A solid tree with a 1724 tombstone leaning against it. Has a massive epicormic swelling between 5′ and 8′. From here is a central riser and many lateral branches.
Tree 2 SSW of church, also female. Rotting away of its centre will eventually lead to development of a horse shoe shaped hollow tree. Inside the old trunk is a wealth of internal growth. This yew was almost gall free. Girth at the ground 9′ 9”, at 1′ it was 9′ 8” and at 4′ also 9′ 8”.