Sycamore Gap Tree Confirmed to Be Over a Century Old, Scientists Reveal

Published: 04 September 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

The Sycamore Gap tree, one of Britain’s most iconic and beloved natural landmarks before its shocking felling in 2023, has been confirmed to be at least 100 to 120 years old, according to a new scientific investigation. The discovery strengthens the long-held belief that the tree was planted in the late 19th century by John Clayton, the Newcastle town clerk and philanthropist celebrated as “the man who saved Hadrian’s Wall.”

Historic England released the findings after dendrochronologists – experts in tree-ring dating – carried out the first formal analysis of the tree. Their work involved examining a carefully cut section from the trunk, transported to the organisation’s national science facility in Portsmouth. The tests revealed tightly packed and irregular growth rings, characteristic of an old sycamore, making the precise dating complex but confirming beyond doubt that the tree was well over a century in age.

Although the rings studied represented a section about a metre above the ground, scientists concluded that the tree was certainly older than 120 years, with its earliest growth dating back to the late 19th century or earlier. This timeline fits with the widely accepted theory that John Clayton, who died in 1890, arranged for its planting as part of his efforts to protect and beautify the landscape surrounding Hadrian’s Wall.

The Sycamore Gap tree was more than a landmark – it was a cultural symbol woven into the fabric of national memory. Nestled dramatically between two ridges along the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, it provided the backdrop for countless personal milestones, including proposals, birthdays, and commemorations. Its silhouette became world-famous after appearing in films and photographs, but its sudden destruction in September 2023 sparked outrage and grief far beyond the UK.

Two men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, were later convicted of illegally felling the tree and sentenced to four years and three months in prison each. The act was described by conservationists and locals alike as a profound vandalism of heritage, severing a living link between nature and history.

Tom Frater, regional director at Historic England, acknowledged the enduring fascination with the tree. “I think people had a real sense of it being an old feature in the landscape but you don’t know, you can’t know just by looking at it when it’s living, and the historical records give us clues but only so much,” he said. “The process of ageing a tree of this kind is delicate work. The rings are incredibly close together, and anomalies in the wood make interpretation challenging. But the evidence points strongly to a planting date consistent with the late 1800s.”

The research has reinforced the connection between the tree and John Clayton’s legacy. A visionary landowner and antiquarian, Clayton recognised the need to excavate and safeguard Hadrian’s Wall at a time when parts of it were under threat from neglect and development. Whenever parcels of land along the wall came up for sale, he attempted to buy them to ensure their preservation. His efforts earned him the reputation as the saviour of the wall, and if the Sycamore Gap tree was indeed planted under his guidance, it would be one more testament to his foresight.

Although the scientific analysis cannot definitively prove Clayton’s involvement, the dating provides the strongest evidence yet in support of the story passed down by locals, conservationists, and the National Trust. For many, the confirmation of the tree’s great age has only deepened the sense of loss. What was once a sentinel on the Northumberland landscape is now gone, leaving behind a stump and memories of the beauty that drew visitors from across the world.

Yet the research also ensures that the Sycamore Gap tree’s place in history is properly documented. More than a symbol of endurance, it now stands as a reminder of the power of heritage to connect generations and the importance of protecting cultural landmarks – both natural and manmade – from acts of irreversible destruction.