Winscombe

1826 Rutter’s Delineations of the NW Division of Somerset – “The churchyard commands an extensive prospect, and in it, is a most beautiful yew tree.”
September 1997 – Tim Hills: A fine spreading tree rises from a clean fluted bole. Girth of 21′ 3” (648cm) at 5′ recorded.
November 2005 – Tim Hills: The tallest branches had been shortened. September 2014 – Peter Norton: The significant yew grows to the east of the north facing porch and is retained by a small ornamental wall. It is a male tree with a fine fluted bole and has a large spreading crown. Girth was recorded in three places with the height taken from the top of the wall: 20′ 9” (632cm) at about 6”; 20′ 6” (625cm) at 1′ (the tree’s minimum girth); 20′ 8” (630cm) at 2′.
2015 – Tim Hills: Girths recorded as follows: 20′ 7” (627cm) at 1′; 20′ 8” (630cm) at 2′ ; 21′ 3½” (649cm) at 3′.
2022 – Tim Hills: Two branches dead and plans made for their removal.
2023 – Tim Hills: Work carried out and some branch smaples collected for dendrochronologhical analysis.
2026 – Tim Hills: The crumbling wall around the yew has now been removed. The first 18”/24” of bole that was hidden by the wall is much darker in colour. A woodchip mulch now covers the base of the tree to the height of the old wall. Girths were recorded at 1′, 2′ and 3′ above the mulch, at the same place as previous recordings. 21′ 0½” (642cm) at 1′; 21′ 2” (645cm) at 2′; 21′ 10” (665cm) at 3′.