The Ancient Trees

While most trees on the estate were planted in the last 150 years, a 2025 survey identified five extraordinary specimens that pre-date the building of the villa itself. These trees serve as living portals to the deepest history of Sidmouth.

1. The Ancient Yew: A Prehistoric Sentinel

Standing near the front western corner of the villa is a large Yew (Taxus baccata).

• Age: While notoriously difficult to age due to irregular trunks and rotting heartwood, this specimen is classified as "ancient," likely exceeding 1,000 years.

• The Sacred Connection: Ancient yews are often found at sites of pre-Christian worship. Historians believe this tree may mark a sacred site or boundary active during the Iron Age, possibly serving the community at the hillfort seven miles north.

• A Remarkable Survivor: Because yew foliage and berries are toxic to livestock, they were frequently cleared from pastures. It is remarkable that this tree survived the centuries when the Powys site was used for grazing.

• Monastic Legacy: The monks who took over the land in 1215 likely protected the tree for its powerful symbolism of eternity and resurrection.

2. The Sweet Chestnuts: The "Oldest in Sidmouth"

Two Sweet Chestnuts dominate the lawn, including one that is possibly 600 years old—making it potentially the oldest living broadleaf tree in Sidmouth.

• Challenging the Roman Myth: While many believe Romans introduced the species, recent DNA and pollen analysis suggest it didn't grow in Britain until the early Anglo-Saxon period, around A.D. 650.

• The Monastic Investment: Monasteries were agricultural powerhouses that propagated these trees for durable timber and food. If the 600-year-old estimate is conservative, the tree may have been planted shortly after the monastic Radway Estate was established in 1215.

• Traditional Management: The older specimen appears to have been managed as a coppice (cut to the ground to produce poles), resulting in its enormous current girth.

3. The Holm Oaks: The 18th-Century Survivors

While Powys House has 19 Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex), only two are "legacy" trees, dating back to approximately 1760.

• Strategic Placement: These 265-year-old evergreens stand in the center of the southern and western boundaries, suggesting they may have served as original property markers.

• Coastal Specialists: Native to the Mediterranean, Holm Oaks were prized in the 1700s for their ability to tolerate salt spray and serve as windbreaks.

• The "Artist’s Bracket": The western specimen overlooking Station Road is currently infected with Artist's Bracket (Ganoderma applanatum) fungi, leaving its future uncertain