New clues in mystery of Horsham tree that’s among the oldest in England

The tree - a yew at St Giles Church in Coldwaltham - is among the oldest in England and has attracted much speculation over its exact age.

Some people, including Horsham District Council experts, have estimated its age at 1,000 years, but others have said it is at least 2,000 years old and some - including Arun Churches - say it is an amazing 3,000 years old.

And this week the vicar of St Giles, Father Peter Mallinson, agreed, putting its age also at 3,000 years - meaning it was already ancient before the birth of Christianity.

“The tree was here before the church was built,” he said. “The original church is Saxon and the Saxons very much respected these ancient trees.”

St Giles was built around 1,200 AD towards the end of the Dark Ages which spanned Britain for around six centuries from 410-1066.

The inside of the St Giles’ yew is now hollow but “growing on the outside,” according to Father Peter.

A sign in the churchyard reads: “This yew tree is one of the 12 oldest in the country and is the subject of a tree preservation order.”