Stoke Poges

In 1954 it was measured by Mr. and Mrs Giltrow and recorded by Swanton. ‘Girth at the base 15′, and 13′ at 3′. The symmetrical trunk is 9′ high and devoid of spray. The crown consists of two main and several other branches. Drastic cutting away of branches on one side has marred the symmetry, and the umbrage on the opposite side is being checked through contact with branches of a nearby very decrepit yew. The maximum umbrage is 83′ in diameter, minimum, 68’.
Two hundred and four years have passed since the poet Gray wrote of this ‘yew tree’s shade’ under which ‘the rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep’.
Owen Johnson recorded 449cm (14′ 9”) in 2001 allowing for ivy on clean bole.
Recorded at the same time, a smaller girthed yew of 361cm (11′ 10”) at 0.3m under scar of lost stem.