This yew Taxus baccata europeaus is beside a delightful small historic house on the outskirts of Derriaghy. The original entrance steps and pillars lead into the front garden, and beside them is the Wesley yew. It can be seen without entering this private garden.
It is known that John Wesley preached here on 16th June 1778, and he commented then on the great age of the yew. Unlike deciduous trees of this great age, the yew shows no signs of decline.
The trunk has the appearance of many fused columns, with a multitude of branches born in a gently spreading form.
Its shape is obviously very stable and secure, as it appears to have lost no branches. Slow and steady seems to win the age race!