PRESS RELEASE!
NEW YEAR, NEW YEW
One of Rosneath’s oldest residents is set to raise money to help revitalise the village’s Princess Louise Hall.
At some 375 years old, that resident is a yew tree, badly damaged as Storm Jocelyn tore across Scotland last week.
Originally part of a yew avenue which extended from St Modan’s Church to the now-demolished Clachan House, the tree remains a precious and much-loved part of the community.
And the newly formed Princess Louise Hall Charity, which aims to bring this community facility back to life, has been given the green light to use branches from this venerable old tree to raise vital funds to make that happen.
“The yew was one of what is believed to have been 24 trees which formed an avenue in the village,” said charity chairwoman Maggie Irving. “Only six now remain of what would have been a really amazing sight and we are keen to include wood from the damaged tree in our fundraising efforts.
“The damaged yew is right beside the hall and it seems fitting that this rather ancient resident should be able to help the makeover of its rather modern neighbour.”
Local historian Tom O’Brien-Barden discovered in John Lowe’s 1896 book The Yew Trees of Great Britain and Ireland, that he describes Rosneath’s avenue saying: “Between the parish church of Roseneath and the Clachan House – an old dowerhouse of the Argylls – there is an avenue of magnificent yew trees; twenty-one are still standing; there have apparently been twenty-four. The largest is 12 feet in circumference about 4 or 5 feet from the ground below where the branches spring. The remains of a larger one is visible, which fell some years ago, and which was cut across to ascertain the age. The age thus estimated was 240 years.”
Assuming the accuracy of that account, the avenue could date back to 1650s, with Charles II about to be restored to the throne during a rather turbulent period of history.
As well as heading the charity, Maggie is also a woodturner, whose skills are already raising money for the Maid of the Loch, creating unique, handmade objects from recycled timbers which are being replaced during the ship’s current overhaul.
She, along with any other local wood workers and crafts people who can use the yew to help swell the coffers of the Princess Louise Hall Charity, will now dry out the timber and allow it to season, so that it can be worked for community good.
