The Ankerwyke Yew is one of Britain's oldest trees. It is estimated to be somewhere between 1500 and 2500 years old. Magna Carta was signed nearby in the year 1215 and it would have been an ancient tree even then. I visited this venerable being on Monday; a half hour train ride out of Clapham Junction and a 20 minute walk from Wraysbury station took me to it.
 The tree stands in the grounds of Ankerwyke Priory. A small ruin about 20 paces away is the only remaining piece of the Priory itself (see also my entry below). Many such places and churches have yews growing beside them. It was supposed that the buildings came first and the yews were planted afterwards for symbolic reasons. Researchers into the subject are now suggesting a different scenario.
 In some cases the yews pre-date Christianity which suggests it was the presence of the trees which decided the choice of location to be built upon. These may have been sacred places before Christians came to them.