Cruck Database

Vernacular Architecture Group, 2003 (updated 2019)

Data copyright © Vernacular Architecture Group unless otherwise stated

This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
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Dr Nat Alcock
Vernacular Architecture Group

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https://doi.org/10.5284/1047565
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Vernacular Architecture Group (2019) Cruck Database [data-set]. York: Archaeology Data Service [distributor] https://doi.org/10.5284/1047565

Introduction

This database was originally created (as 80 column cards) by N W Alcock as a Vernacular Architecture Group project, with the collaboration of many members of the group. It was used to generate the published catalogues of cruck buildings in Cruck Construction: an Introduction and Catalogue CBA Research Report 42 (1981) and its predecessor, A Catalogue of Cruck Buildings (Phillimore for Vernacular Architecture Group, 1973).

1 Birmingham Road

1 Birmingham Road, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire,
a three-bay (four-truss) cruck cottage, dated by dendrochronology to 1480

Since then the database has been migrated to PARADOX and to EXCEL, and can be downloaded as comma-separated values files. Its fields retain the letter codings that were introduced in 1973 to save space and input time. It has been added to intermittently, as material came to hand, and has now grown from c. 4000 (1981) to over 6000 entries. A major update was carried out in summer 2002, when some counties being actively researched were systematically revised. Additional entries and revisions have been incorporated up to June 2019, giving a total of 6,337 entries (4,396 true and 1,064 jointed crucks). Numerous maps and analyses based on the database in 2018 are published in Cruck Building: A Survey, ed. Nat Alcock, Paul Barnwell and Martin Cherry (Shaun Tyas, 2019).

The database contains information on the name, location, function and condition of the cruck buildings with further details on the crucks themselves and bibliographic references. For a more detailed description of the database go to the Overview page, or carry out a search on the data using the Query page.

Vernacular Architecture Group

The Vernacular Architecture Group was formed in 1952 to further the study of lesser traditional buildings. The Group has over 600 members, including some 50 overseas members, and a number of affiliated groups and exchanging societies. Membership is open to anyone interested in vernacular architecture. Members are involved in all aspects of the recording and study of vernacular buildings including detailed local or regional surveys, studies of particular types of buildings, building materials and techniques, documentary evidence and principles of development.

Other VAG collections include:

Contact details:

VAG Membership Secretary
84 Derby Road
Spondon
Derbyshire
DE21 7LX
Email: membership-secretary@vag.org.uk