MysteryHidden
The Magna Carta yew
It saw the king, the barons and the seal. It says nothing.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Huge ancient yew near priory ruins
- Legend from
- Tradition
- Tone
- Curious
An ancient yew that may have watched King John put his seal to Magna Carta.
The Ankerwycke Yew stands near the ruins of St Mary's Priory at Wraysbury, across the Thames from Runnymede. It is said to have witnessed the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. It is also said to be one of the places where Henry VIII may have courted Anne Boleyn. Wikipedia notes there is some justification for calling it the last surviving witness to Magna Carta, though in the 13th century the land here was probably marshy flood plain. The tree is ancient, but its exact age is unknown.
One sourceOnly one written account of this legend has been found so far.