TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF TIMBERS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, VOWCHURCH, HEREFORDSHIRE
Author(s): Nigel Nayling
This report describes the results of the dendrochronological analysis of samples taken from the gable ends of cross frames of the White House, Vowchurch, Herefordshire (NGR SO349357) a grade II* listed building presently undergoing renovation of its north-facing frontage. The removal of render from this frontage had exposed previously obscured timber framing indicating multi-period construction, which can be divided into four main phases on structural grounds. The earliest phase, the eastern most surviving cross frame, has been dated to AD 1540, although subsequent alteration to give a close studded framing pattern remains undated. The second phase, comprising a single corner post immediately to the east, felled AD 1537-73, may represent reuse of a timber from phase 1 during construction of the cross frames of phase 3 or an intermediate phase. Phase 3, visible in the frontage as the remnants of a cross frame carrying two roof trusses, has been dated to AD 1602. Again, the frame pattern has been subsequently altered through the addition of close studding. One of these studs has given a felling date of AD 1532-68 suggesting possible reuse of phase 1 timbers. The latest phase of timber-frame construction, phase 4, a series of jettied gables, has not been dated by dendrochronology although the discovery of a drawing dated AD 1812 indicates that this phase pre-dates construction of a gothic wing to the east and can be placed in the date range AD 1602-1812.
- Report Number:
- 73/1999
- Series:
- AML Reports (New Series)
- Pages:
- 13
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
