Series: Nottingham Tree-ring Dating Laboratory unpublished report series

Analysis by dendrochronology of 24 oak samples and three pine samples obtained from these buildings has resulted in the production of two dated oak site chronologies and one undated pine site chronology. The first oak site chronology, BIDASQ01, comprising 14 samples from 1-3 and 5 Bridge Street is 223 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1484-1706. The second oak site chronology, BIDASQ02, comprises four samples, all of them from number 3 Bridge Street. This site chronology is 88 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1632- 1720. Taken overall, the interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples would indicate that a number of timbers were cut as part of a single programme of felling between 1620-35. Such timbers include those used in the second-floor ceiling and two fireplace lintels of 1 Bridge Street, and the roof of 2 Bridge Street. These timbers were used in conjunction with a few others, also from the roof of 2 Bridge Street, which had been felled earlier (and probably at different times to each other) in the late-sixteenth century or early-seventeenth century. Further timbers, felled in 1706, were used for the main ground- floor ceiling beams of 5 Bridge Street. The final phase of felling is represented by the roof timbers of 3 Bridge Street which were felled in 1720.

An attempt was made to obtain core samples from the three stub remnants of timbers set at about first-floor level into the tower walls of All Saints' Church at Winterton in Lincolnshire. However, analysis could only be undertaken on two of these cores, that from the northwest stub and that from the southwest stub, the core from the southeast stub having fragmented as it was being drilled (and the timber itself threatening to disintegrate during the process). This analysis produced a series of modest, though still statistically significant, cross-matches between the two samples and a small number of reference chronologies, giving different dates for the two timbers. The earlier timber, the southwest stub (sample WNT-A02), has a last extant heartwood/sapwood boundary ring date of 1445 (ie, only the sapwood rings are missing). Allowing for the minimum and maximum number of sapwood rings the tree which this sample represents might have had (15-40), would give the timber an estimated felling of between 1460 at the earliest and 1485 at the latest. The later timber, the northwest stub (sample WNT-A01), has a last extant heartwood/sapwood boundary ring date of 1500 (again, only the sapwood rings are missing). Allowing for the same minimum and maximum number of sapwood rings the tree might have had (15-40), would give the timber an estimated felling of between 1515 at the earliest and 1540 at the latest. As such, these dates do not in themselves represent a structure as old as the tower itself. As a note of caution, however, it must be pointed out that the results given here have been obtained individually from two rather short samples, of 56 and 51 rings in length, which have cross-matched, albeit quite well, with a slightly limited number of reference chronologies.

Analysis by dendrochronology was undertaken on 26 of the 29 samples obtained from the timbers of the cross-wing range of Brockhampton Manor, three samples having too few rings for reliable dating. This analysis produced a single site chronology comprising 21 samples and having an overall length of 202 rings. These rings were dated as spanning the years 1304-1505. A further single sample was dated individually. Interpretation of the sapwood on the 22 dated samples suggests that the roof of the cross-wing is composed of timber felled 1414-29, while the timbers used in the first floor stud walling and two timbers to the ground floor ceiling in the kitchen were felled 1520-28. Another timber, an intermediate beam to the attic floor, has a felling date in the period 1661-86.

A total of 10 core samples were obtained from the south range roof trusses at Cannington Court, Cannington. Analysis by dendrochronology of eight of these samples (two samples having insufficient rings for reliable dating) has resulted in the production of a single dated site chronology comprising six of these eight. This site chronology is 104 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1332-1435. Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples would indicate that, although the exact year of felling date cannot be determined, the timbers were probably all cut as part of a single programme of felling at some point between 1448 at the earliest and 1473 at the latest. The two remaining measured samples from this roof are undated. In addition to the roof samples, an attempt was made to take a core from a post in the face of the south wall (the side facing onto the courtyard) of the north range. The timber proved to be very decayed and a full core could not be obtained. It was seen that, in any case, the timber had too few rings for reliable analysis. The substantial roof of the west range was also assessed as to its potential for tree ring analysis, but the timbers here were all seen to be of elm. As yet elm is not amenable to dating by dendrochronology, and no samples were taken.

Core samples were obtained from 37 different oak timbers within Cromford Bridge House, Cromford, Derbyshire. Analysis of 34 of these samples (three having too few rings for reliable dating) produced five dated site chronologies. Interpretation of the dates obtained for 29 of the 34 measured samples indicates that the earliest part of the present building is the two-bays of one of the north-south ranges gable-end on to the road. This was constructed of timber felled in 1524. A further large single-bay extension was added to the north side of this original two bay hall in 1655. A few years later, in 1662, a major development saw the addition of an east- west range, added to the west of the two earlier stages of building. This new work appears to have been a two-storey-with-attic domestic building at its east end (where it attached to the existing building), and a one-and-a-half storey, possibly agricultural building, at the west end. Within a less than a hundred years, almost certainly by 1735, the one-and-a-half storey portion of the east-west range was raised in height to make it a two- storey-with-attic building, matching the rest of this range. This work reused much of the timber felled in 1662, but incorporated and reused some salvaged timbers originally felled in 1586, and some new timbers specifically felled for the mid-eighteenth century work. Other, minor, alterations were made to some parts of the building during these years. The exact date of these works cannot be determined. It is likely that within a generation of the east-west range having been built, say by 1780, a superior Georgian range was attached to the east of, and parallel to, the primary 1524 build, as a north-south gable range.

Analysis by dendrochronology of cores resulted in the production of a single dated site chronology comprising five samples. The site chronology is 192 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1342-1533. interpretation of the sapwood on the samples indicates that all dated timbers were cut as a single programme of felling in 1533

Analysis by dendrochronology of samples from two suitable timbers in this cottage has resulted in the production of a single dated site chronology comprising both the samples obtained, this having an overall length of 69 rings. These rings were dated as spanning the years 1368-1436. Interpretation of the sapwood on the samples would indicate that the timbers were probably all cut as part of a single programme of felling at some point between 1455 at the earliest and 1465 at the latest.

A total of 24 core samples were obtained from the timbers of these two adjacent buildings, 15 from the barn and nine from the farmhouse. Analysis by dendrochronology of these cores resulted in the production of a single dated site chronology comprising 11 samples. This site chronology is 207 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1393-1599. Interpretation of the sapwood on the samples would indicate that timbers with different felling dates are to be found here. The earliest certain felling is represented by the south upper purlin to the west gable of the farmhouse, this being cut in 1504. The south lower purlin between trusses 2-3 may have been felled between 1531-56, but this is far from certain, while three other farmhouse purlins have an estimated felling date range of 1607-32. The earliest barn timber, the east lower purlin truss 1-2, has an estimated felling date range of 1516-41, while the west lower purlin truss 2-3 has an estimated felling date range of 1531-56. The east and west blades of truss 3 were probably felled together, these having an estimated felling date range of 1562-87. The latest felling found in the barn is represented by the tiebeams of truss 2 and 4, these having an estimated felling date range of 1603-28, again probably being felled together. It is possible that these tiebeams, and the three early-seventeenth century purlins of the farmhouse, were cut together as part of a single programme of felling

Twelve core samples were obtained from the cruck trusses and the roof of the northern range of the Cavendish Arms public house in the Market Place in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria. Analysis by dendrochronology of these cores resulted in the production of a single dated site chronology comprising nine samples. This site chronology is 131 rings long, these rings dated as spanning the years 1407-1537. Interpretation of the sapwood on the samples would indicate that all the dated timbers were cut as part of a single programme of felling in 1537.

Tree-ring analysis of a small number of timbers in this building shows that number 50 Well Street retains elements of what was probably an open hall dating to the later-fifteenth century, the timbers for which were probably all felled in 1468. It would appear that in 1540 the open hall was floored over. The building then appears to have been worked on again in 1681, being given a new roof and other new internal timbers at this time.