The top couple feet of the branches were red in the winter. I hope these photos give enough info although they have not leafed out.
Pyramidal European hornbeam mal-pruned into abnormal branching structure. These become medium-sized trees when able to develop fully and will not fit where they are now. There is also a new (for us) one on the market called 'Frans Fontaine', it may be possible these look a litte different (less fine-textured and symmetric) because they are actually it instead of the far more common 'Fastigiata'. I figured the pruning has produced the uneven branching (which I have noticed on 'Frans Fontaine') but yours may also have thicker twigs than is usual for 'Fastigiata'.
