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The best account of the moving of the Yew is probably that given by the Buckland parish magazine for March 1880:-

The operations commenced on Tuesday, 24 February 1880, when a trench was dug on all sides four feet wide leaving a large block of earth, 18 feet long by 16 feet wide. The trench was made 5 feet deep and a long cutting formed from the old position to the new one gradually rising to within one foot of the surface. The large block of earth was then bound with planks of timber held in place by chains, with straw being inserted between the timbers to hold the soil  together, luckily there were no large roots which had to be carved out.

As soon as the earth was bound, men began tunneling under the tree in four drifts, into these drifts were placed huge baulks of timber, then were placed battens and six inch wooden rollers. When these were secure the remaining earth was cut away between the baulks of timber, and the whole mass estimated to be 56 tons, was then resting on the baulks and rollers. 

Various boughs were propped up with heavy timbers then chains and blocks were fitted; when all was ready the move began; at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 3 March it started its move. It was continued through the following day and completed by 9.30 a.m. on Friday, 5 March, the Yew tree was then allowed to settle down into position, turf was packed between the baulks, then with powerful jacks they were raised and the rollers were taken out; the baulks were then withdrawn, the holes packed with turf and soil banked up as it now stands today. 

Mr. Barron of Barron and Son of Borrowash near Derby had supervised the move and far from causing the death of the great tree, the move seems to have renewed its lease of life, its vitality has certainly increased and its branches have extended at least six feet