3-052-509 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Ancient yew in Buckland Churchyard, Kent, 1880. 'Transplanting An Old Churchyard Yew. The village church of Buckland, near Dover, is about to be enlarged; and for this purpose it has been needful to remove a venerable old yew-tree, which had grown nearly a thousand years close to the western door. The aged tree...is now transplanted to the distance of 56 ft., and it is hoped that it will continue to live for ages longer. It is said to be the only one of its species mentioned in Domesday Book. By the effect of a stroke of lightning, it is divided into two principal limbs...the whole mass is calculated to weigh 55 tons. For the operation of its removal, the Vicar, the Rev. Turberville Evans, consulted Mr. William Barron, of the firm of W. Barron and Son,...whose line of business of transplanting trees, extends back to before the year 1830, and who has most successfully carried out his profession in all parts of the world; having transplanted trees...by means of his self-patented machines, which are of various sizes according to the...undertaking...By means of pulleys and blocks, the entire mass was gradually worked forward, the most spreading limbs of the tree being kept in a steady position by a timber trolley and props while being removed'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.