The Northern Antiquarian Forum

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The Northern Antiquarian Forum

Archaeology, folklore & myth of Britain's pre-christian sites & heritage: stone circles, holy wells, maypoles, tombs, archaic cosmologies and human consciousness. Everyone welcome - even Southerners!


    Overton Yew Trees, Wrexham, North Wales.

    Sunbright57
    Sunbright57


    Join date : 2011-02-10
    Age : 67
    Location : Nelson - the one in Lancashire sorry to say!

    Overton Yew Trees, Wrexham, North Wales. Empty Overton Yew Trees, Wrexham, North Wales.

    Post  Sunbright57 Sun Jul 10, 2011 3:05 pm

    Os grid reference SJ.37330 41817. In St Mary's churchyard at Overton near Wrexham, north Wales, there are 20 (some say 21) ancient yew trees dating back, according to legend 1,500-2,000 years, probably before the first ever church was built here. Certainly the yew trees date back to the 12th century. They circle the Norman church of St Mary. The trees are majestic, venerable, very big, stocky and well gnarled due to their great age. Some look as if they are dead, but they are not. If one part of a tree dies then another branch grows out from the sides to continue the life giving growth that seems to be never ending.

    The yew trees here at Overton feature in a well told rhyme concerning the 'Seven Wonders of Wales' that dates from the late 17th to early 18th century though the person that wrote it is not known. The rhyme goes as follows:-

    Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,
    Snowdon's mountain without its people,
    Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells,
    Llangollen bridge, and Gresford bells.

    Click on the following link http://www.panoramio.com/photo/704982

    Sunbright57
    Sunbright57


    Join date : 2011-02-10
    Age : 67
    Location : Nelson - the one in Lancashire sorry to say!

    Overton Yew Trees, Wrexham, North Wales. Empty Re: Overton Yew Trees, Wrexham, North Wales.

    Post  Sunbright57 Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:45 am

    There are more Welsh church-yards with ancient yew trees. Here are a few that are worthy of note:-

    Berriew, Powys, (1)
    Chirk, Wrexham, (2)
    Dyserth, Denbighshire, (1)
    Gresford, Wrexham, (1)
    Guilsfield, Powys, (2)
    Gwytherin, Conway, (3)
    Llandderfel, Gwynedd, (1)
    Llandegla, Denbighshire, (1)
    Llandrillo, Denbighshire, (1)
    Llanerfyl, Powys, (1)
    Llanfaredd, Powys, (1)
    Llangernyw, Conway, (1)

    And many more.

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