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Cilycwm

Nearest town: Llandovery

Site type: churchyard

Access: Public

Church name: St Michael

Diocese: St Davids

County: Carmarthenshire

Country: Wales

Grid ref: SN75334003

Lost yew site: Yes

Date visited: 26-Oct-98

Recorded by: Tim Hills/Sara Fox

Protection & responsibility: Church in Wales

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 5m-7m, Ancient 7m+, Lost

Notes: 5 yews grow in the churchyard, the largest to the SE. While the present church building is thought to be early 14th century, the presence of ancient yews and the knowledge that there were once two more of similar size, suggests that this site was used as a place of worship centuries earlier. In the mid 19th century, Alcwyn Evans remarked on the yews at Cilycwm. He said that 'Seven Yew trees of very ancient appearance grow in the churchyard, 3 on the north and 4 on the south, one of which measures 21ft in circumference'. In 2017 there are 3 on the north side, as well as the stump of a tree that would probably have girthed more than 24ft. On the south side are two yews and another large girthed stump.

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