Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from Dacre Hall, Lanercost Priory, Brampton, Near Carlisle, Cumbria
Author(s): Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, Cliff Litton
A total of 56 samples was obtained from five different areas of Dacre Hall. The analysis of 52 of these produced five site chronologies. The first, LCPASQ01, comprises 29 samples of combined length 155 rings. This site chronology is dated as spanning AD 1350 to AD 1504. The second site chronology LCPASQ02, comprises six samples of combined length 280 rings, these spanning AD 977 to AD 1256. Three other site chronologies comprising a total of seven further samples cannot be dated. Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples suggests that a number of timbers, possibly originally felled in the thirteenth century, have been reused in the roof. Some principal roof timbers, particularly at the northern end, were felled in AD 1465. Other timbers of the hall roof, particularly those of the southern trusses have an estimated felling date in the range AD 1502 to AD 1527. Many of the timbers of the first floor frame appear to have been felled c AD 1507. It is possible that this work, and that to the southern trusses occurred at the same time. No timber from the immediate post-Dissolution period has been found.
- Report Number:
- 48/2004
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Pages:
- 28
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
