Crowhurst Yew
A tree with real history
Alleged to be as much as 4,000 years old by various sources, this tree is as famous for its age as it is for the wooden door that has been built into the tree. It is not known exactly when the door was attached to the tree, other than some time after 1820; this was the date when villagers hollowed out the bole of the tree.
In the process of hollowing out the tree they discovered a cannonball, which may have inadvertently embedded itself in the tree after being fired by an errant cannon during the English Civil War. The farm opposite the church was a staunch Royalist position and as such may have been a target for Cromwell’s troops.
Suffice to say that the yew is not involved in such drama these days and is happily growing into its ancient years.
A Group with 12 riders left the Douglas Brunton Centre on a lovely sunny morning heading south down to Bletchingley , Ian managed to drop his pannier but no mishap occurred, on and a short visit to the old (very) Yew Tree at Crowhurst past Lingfield Race Course preparing for a day of racing to lunch outside in the sun at ‘The Old House at Home’. Last time here some of the people said it was so cold a train home was taken! This time several sought shade from the hot sun.
A complex route under at least 5 railway bridges after lunch found us at Godstone Garden centre for tea having lost Tony D’Italia one of several pusher onners who often push to far
From Pete Mitchell
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