St John’s Hospital and Chantry, Cirencester, Gloucestershire Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers
Author(s): Alison Arnold, Robert Howard
Dendrochronological analysis undertaken on samples from the roof structure of this building has resulted in the construction and dating of two site sequences. The first, SJHCSQ01, contains two samples and spans the period AD 1091–1201. Interpretation of the sapwood on these two samples points to them having been felled within the range AD 1202–25. The second site sequence, SJHCSQ02, contains 14 samples and spans the period AD 1254–1436. Three of these samples have complete sapwood and were felled in AD 1436, with the remaining 11 thought to have also been felled at this time. Prior to tree-ring analysis being undertaken, this roof was believed to be largely of one, early medieval phase, but with some later inserted timber repairs. It is now known that this primary roof structure dates to the second quarter of the fifteenth century, with the majority of dated timbers having been felled in AD 1436, but that it incorporates a number of early twelfth-century, presumably reused, timbers. The few ‘inserted’ timbers dated were found to have the same felling date as the primary roof timbers. A possible explanation for this is that these ‘inserted’ timbers are relocated from other parts of the roof or contemporaneous work elsewhere in the building.
- Report Number:
- 14/2007
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 33
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
