There are few sights more evocative than an ancient yew. Twisted, hollow and impossibly long-lived, these remarkable trees have watched over the Sussex landscape for centuries and in some cases, perhaps millennia. Their presence often hints that a place has been important for far longer than the church standing beside them today, with some historians suggesting that many ancient yews mark sites that were considered sacred long before the Normans built in stone.
Dating ancient yews is notoriously difficult. Their trunks hollow with age, making scientific dating almost impossible, so estimates vary widely. Yet whether they are one thousand or two thousand years old, there is no doubting that these extraordinary trees are among the county’s oldest living residents. Here are eight of Sussex’s most remarkable ancient yews.
1. St Giles’ Church, Coldwaltham
Standing in the churchyard of St Giles’ Church, the ancient yew at Coldwaltham is one of Sussex’s great veteran trees. Widely believed to be well over 1,000 years old, with some estimates placing it much older, it has quietly watched over the village through Saxon, Norman and modern times alike.
The tree stands beside the Norman church of St Giles, home to a rare 11th-century gravestone and a simple Saxon font, suggesting this has been an important place of worship for many centuries. When measured by the Ancient Yew Group in 1999, the tree had a girth of just over 10.4 metres, making it one of the county’s most impressive ancient yews.
2. St Mary’s Church, Stopham
Close to the entrance to St Mary’s Church, the ancient yew at Stopham has also welcomed visitors for well over a thousand years. Measuring almost eight metres in girth when recorded by the Ancient Yew Group, it is another of West Sussex’s most impressive veteran trees.
The surrounding Stopham estate was recorded in the Domesday Book, and is also home to an historic manor, vineyard and a medieval bridge. Whether the tree already stood here when the Normans arrived is impossible to know, but it has undoubtedly witnessed centuries of village life.
3. St Margaret the Queen Church, Buxted
If Sussex has a contender for its most remarkable ancient yew, it is surely this giant at Buxted. Estimated to be more than 2,000 years old, the vast hollow trunk measures over 26 feet (around eight metres) in girth and has inspired stories for generations.
The tree has been documented since at least 1824, while during WWII its hollow interior was even used to store coal. Recognised as one of Britain’s Millennium Yews, cuttings were taken in 1999 and distributed to churches across the country, ensuring this extraordinary survivor will continue its legacy.
4. St Mary’s Church, Wilmington
Just a short walk from the famous Long Man of Wilmington stands another remarkable survivor of Sussex’s past. The ancient yew in the churchyard of St Mary’s is so old and substantial that its great limbs are supported by props and chains.
Some believe it could date back as far as the Roman period, although, as with all ancient yews, its true age remains uncertain. A large stone at the foot of the tree is thought to be Roman and was reportedly uncovered by a local well digger, who was later buried nearby.
5. St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Tucked beside the beautiful medieval church of St George, the ancient yew at Crowhurst is one of Sussex’s most evocative. Tradition suggests it was already growing in the days of King Harold, making it a living witness to one of the most dramatic periods in English history.
Whether or not that claim can ever be proved, standing beneath its sprawling branches is a powerful reminder that some of Sussex’s oldest residents are not its castles or churches, but its trees.
6. St Mary’s Church, Sullington
The ancient yew at Sullington tells a story not just of survival, but of loss. The churchyard was once home to a remarkable grove of ancient yews, creating one of the most memorable church settings in Sussex. Today, only one veteran tree remains after others were lost over the centuries, including several during the Great Storm of 1987.
Traditionally dated to around the 9th century, the surviving yew may even pre-date the Saxon church itself. Historic accounts describe hollow trunks large enough for children to play inside and even for potatoes to be stored within.
7. St Mary’s Church, Slaugham
Slaugham’s ancient yew is estimated to be more than a thousand years old, this impressive female yew has a girth of more than seven metres and continues to thrive despite the passing centuries. It has been called the oldest yew in Sussex but that is a claim that is hard to substantiate. The Norman church and its peaceful setting provide a fitting home for such a remarkable survivor.
8. St Peter and St John the Baptist, Wivelsfield
Standing beside the ancient Church of St Peter and St John the Baptist, and the yew on the north side of the church is possibly predates the church. Wivelsfield grew during the late Saxon and early Norman periods and the church has Saxon origins, with parts dating from around 1050. That means the yew has seen Saxon worshippers, Norman builders, medieval pilgrims and generations of villagers come and go beneath its branches.
Bonus yews: Kingley Vale
After visiting some of Sussex’s most remarkable churchyard yews, there is only one place to end the journey. Tucked beneath the South Downs near Chichester, Kingley Vale is home to one of the finest ancient yew forests in Europe. Here, hundreds of twisted, gnarled and deeply furrowed trees cloak the hillside, creating an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the county.
The oldest yews are thought to be well over a thousand years old, with some estimates suggesting they may be considerably older. Their exact age will probably never be known, but walking among them is to wander through one of Britain’s oldest living landscapes.
As with so many ancient places, folklore has taken root here. Legend tells of Viking warriors whose spirits still haunt the woods, while nearby the mysterious Devil’s Humps, Bronze Age burial mounds dating back around 4,000 years, remind visitors that people have revered this landscape for millennia.
We’ll add to this list as we visit more Sussex yews, but feel free to share your favourites. And if you have enjoyed this article about great Sussex yews, you may also like:
