Lindores House stands in a stunning location on a former monastic site and dates to around 1820. It was built for Admiral Maitland, who took the surrender of Napoleon Bonaparte, though the fabric of a much earlier building can be seen in the cellar of the house.
Standing by itself on a lawn east of the house is a great layering yew. Entering the canopy through a small gap finds a marvellous, towering yew trunk exuding both power and strength. It has a girth of 493 cm at both 100 cm and 150 cm high (SYTHI 2020).
In 2012 it was estimated that the yew was 350 years old and had a girth of 490 cm at 150 cm high. In 8 years it seems to have added 3 cm of girth – an average rate of just 37.5 mm per year. However, re-evaluation by SYTHI, after discussion with research colleagues and understanding of yew growth rates having improved since 2012, concluded that it was very probably at least 500 years old. This was a figure the present owner of Lindores House always felt to be more likely.
Another yew stands nearby which is beginning to be encroached upon by ivy and it appears to be a few centuries old.
