TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF TIMBERS FROM BROCKWORTH COURT BARN, BROCKWORTH, GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Author(s): Robert Howard, R R Laxton, Cliff Litton
The objective of the dendrochronological analysis at Brockworth Court Barn, Gloucestershire, was to date this at-risk building in order to inform its future management. It was hoped that the results of the analysis would influence the process of repair or the recording of the building prior to further action. From the fourteen samples obtained, two site chronologies were formed. The first chronology, of ten timbers from what is probably the original phase, has 137 rings and spans the period AD 1141 to 1277. The relative positions of the heartwood/sapwood boundaries on the samples in this chronology give an estimated felling date in the range AD 1285 to 1310. The second site chronology, of two timbers, has 105 rings and spans the period AD 1352 to 1456. Neither of the samples in this second site chronology has the heartwood/sapwood boundary. It is thus not possible to estimate a felling date for the timbers represented except to say that it is unlikely to be before the final quarter of the fifteenth century. Two samples from the site remain undated. Given the early date of this barn, and the unstratified nature of the samples, it is thought that sampling of the timbers still in situ, particularly the crucks, would be highly beneficial. This would help confirm that the principal components of the structure are indeed early and that the dated timbers are not reused.
- Report Number:
- 46/1998
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 10
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
