Taplow Court

The Sacred Yew (1994) by Chetan and Brueton contains the following description: ‘On top of the barrow was an ancient yew. The archaeological report (1883) records that it was not less than 21ft in circumference.’
The 1905 Victorian History of Buckinghamshire, page 200: ‘The mound or barrow was 30 yards from the west end of the old church, and exists to this day almost in its original form. The trunk of an ancient yew tree, with a girth of over 20 feet, still stood on the summit when excavations were undertaken in October 1883……… Before the excavation began, measurements were taken, and the barrow was found to be roughly circular, about 240 feet in circumference at the base, and 80 feet in diameter ; while the flat top was 15 feet above the level of the churchyard and had a diameter of 20 feet. A start was made at the southern end, from which a cutting was directed towards the centre ; other openings were then made from the north and west, and a tunnel driven below the yew tree which subsequently collapsed. Among the roots between 2 and 3 feet from the top of the mound were found several pieces of dressed chalk that may well have formed part of a door or window in the Norman church, and been buried in the mound when that structure was restored or rebuilt in the fourteenth century.’
An paper entitled On the remains found in an anglo-Saxon tumulus at Taplow, Bucks was read by Dr Joseph Stevens on Jan 16th 1884: “At the time of the exploration the crest of the tumulus was occupied by a dismantled yew-tree, which from its stature (its circumference being not less than 21 feet) had stood the wear and tear of several centuries, it having probably been planted there at the consecration of the old church……………..The work was discontinued for a few days on account of a slight accident to Mr Rutland from the falling in of some earth from underneath the yew-tree……..Opportunity was sufficiently afforded to take an accurate survey of the contents of the grave, and to remove those articles which were in situ when the yew-tree sank into the excavation, carrying the bolsters with it.”