The Tree-Ring Dating of a number of Bellframes in Leicestershire
Author(s): Alison Arnold, G Dawson, Robert Howard, Cliff Litton
The timbers of 18 bellframes were assessed for their dendrochronological resulting in 12 being selected for analysis. Eleven of these produced dated timbers, although one bellframe is represented by only a single dated timber. With the exception of the late fifteenth-century timbers at Knipton and Shenton, the rest of the timbers proved to be of seventeenth-and eighteen-century date. These effectively divide into two groups, one dating to the early-mid seventeenth century, followed by an apparent gap in felling in the third quarter of the seventeenth century, and the second group dating to the late seventeenth-mid eighteenth century. In general the standard typology has been supported by the tree-ring dates, however, this project has identified two examples where a successful bellframes type has continued for longer than previously believed. The timber exploited for these structures has been shown to vary in character, whether short-lived or long-lived, fast or slow grown, with various sources being used. This project has demonstrated the potential dendrochronology has to increase our understanding and future protection of bellframes. Additionally, in the light of these results, there is an argument that the conventional typology might need revising.
- Report Number:
- 5/2005
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Pages:
- 268
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
