Shurland Hall Gatehouse, Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, Kent: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers
Author(s): Alison Arnold, Robert Howard
Dendrochronological analysis of 30 samples from the gatehouse of Shurland Hall has resulted in the production of three site chronologies. The first comprises eight samples of overall length of 122 rings, the second comprises 14 samples with an overall length of 192 rings, whilst the third comprises three samples of overall length 96 rings. Only the 122 rings of the first site chronology can be dated, these spanning the years AD 1405–1526. Interpretation of the sapwood on the dated samples indicates that they probably represent timbers cut as part of a single programme of felling sometime between AD 1536–61. As such they represent neither the early-sixteenth century rebuild of Shurland Hall by Sir Thomas Cheney in the period AD 1510–18, nor the enlargement of the site completed in time for the visit of Henry VIII in AD 1532. It is possible, however, that the dated timbers were cut at different times from as early as AD 1523 to as late as AD 1566.
- Report Number:
- 58/2008
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 37
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
