TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF TIMBERS FROM STAYLEY HALL, GREATER MANCHESTER
Author(s): Nigel Nayling
Stayley Hall, comprising a central hall and east and west jettied cross-wings, and located on a spur overlooking the Tame valley and Millbrook, is a grade II listed manor house in an advanced stage of decay reflected in its status as a category A building at risk. Dendrochronological analysis of samples from the hall and cross wings suggest that they are broadly contemporary, having been constructed in the mid-1550's. The timber framing was subsequently clad in stone, some time after AD 1557. A felling date of AD 1556 is associated with an inserted door in the western wall of the west wing providing access to a stair turret. A further inserted door in the same wall, dated to AD 1563, suggests alterations in anticipation of the construction of a western extension dated to AD 1565. The results date primary construction of the hall to the mid-sixteenth century. Hence, cusped windbraces observed in the roof prior to its collapse could not have been in situ medieval survivals, although they could have been reused from an earlier building indicated by documentary evidence.
- Report Number:
- 6/2000
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 16
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
