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Picture source: Russell Judge

The Yew Tree was situated on Holborn Hill. This grade-II listed pub is now in residential use.

We were walking The Ridgeway in 1985 and stopped at this pub for lunch. The place was deserted except for one lady manning the pub as there was a funeral which the village was attending! She could not do much for us but we each did have a good pint with a large lump of cheese and hunk of bread. Perfect! Sad to see another pub lost but I have some great memories.

David Thorne (May 2019)

Wonderful welcoming small pub set on the left as you entered the village from Wantage direction. Had a nice snug to the right as you entered through the door. Amazing plough mans lunch. As I remember, it was called the Yew Tree Inn not the Yew Tree. The inn was bought in the 1980’s by a Charming woman Jeannie from Oxford who was looking for a quieter rural existence. Some of the neighbors were Tim Forster, Horse Trainer, who won the Grand National 3 times. Mr Wheeler, a local farmer. John Tischer, a-lovely man and his charming wife, John was good at darts. And another man who made horse feed. There were many other lovely folk whose names escape me currently. The new vicar was appointed He wore a Jaunty mustache and was a delightful young man. The watercress farm over the road, though no longer used, still had watercress growing which was sharp to the taste. There was an annual contest for the person who could grow the largest onion. Basil, who lived in the neighboring villiage consistently won the award. All onions, were chopped and eaten by the patrons with large chunks of cheddar cheese and copious pints. Traveling Morris Dancers in summer would perform in the car park. Drink a pint or two and move on to perform at another local. The stable lads from Tim Forsters stables were regular customers. Happy, tough and hard working young men from every corner of the U.K. skilled with horses. The Grand National was won by Tim Forsters stable the year I was in the village. The horse was proudly paraded through the villiage and on ‘the gallops’ - the horse training runs on the hill above. The pub did reasonably well until in Letcombe Regis another drinking venue opened, a working mans club perhaps it was called - I can’t quite remember now: and attracted the yew tree customers. Long term this brought about the yew trees end. The soon to be owners of the new establishment in letcombe Regis, a Jolly friendly woman and her sons, frequented the yew tree. They quietly encouraged in the customers a transfer of allegiance from the yew tree to the new establishment soon opening in letcombe Regis. It was a perhaps unfair tactic, but so it is in business. The sons of the new owner in Letcome Regis were rock and roll musicians who were lovely young men and with a seemingly promising future. Jeannie with her son continued to live in the yew tree for a while after it closed. Occasionally opening on a weekend as I remember for ‘ old times sake ‘ and to bring together some of the local people. Jeannie wrote a wonderful book for children, completed whilst living at the Yew Tree and published by Penguin or puffin. Jeannie on Saturday's and Sunday's would often travel off to give a performance of Punch and Judy - For children’s birthday parties or Schools which had hired her. she was very skilled at this. Jeannie has two children. Dear Jeannie came to pass amongst the Oxford downs which she loved. I think the Son continued to live at the yew tree for some time until it was eventually sold as a residential property.

Anon (September 2020)

Listed building details:

Farmhouse, now public house. Late C17, early C19 walling. Imitation stone render over brick plinth; Flemish bond brick to right side of front; C20 tile roof, brick stacks. L-plan. 1 1/2-storey, 2-window range. Timber lintel to left, segmental arch to right, over 2- and 3-light C20 casements; C20 hipped dormers. 3- window range of C20 casements to left side wall. Gabled and half-hipped roof; late C17 left end and rear ridge stack. Interior: grate of c1900 covers original fireplace to left room, which has chamfered and stopped beam; chamfered beam to right room; early C19 4-panelled doors to first floor.

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