Tree-Ring Analysis of Oak Timbers from Hovingham Hall, Hovingham, North Yorkshire
Author(s): Ian Tyers
A tree-ring dating programme was commissioned as part of a programme of repairs to the roofs of Hovingham Hall, Hovingham, by English Heritage in AD 2001. The building was designed by Thomas Worsley for himself between c AD 1751 and AD 1778 when he died. Thomas Worsley was George III's Surveyor General from AD 1760 and the programme of construction at Hovingham appears to have been influenced by his work in London from that date. The precise sequence of construction has been the subject of discussion and it was hoped that tree-ring dating would help clarify this. The tree-ring results indicate that seven areas of the roofs incorporate timbers felled, or probably felled, in the AD 1750s and early AD 1760s, but that at least three of these areas also include timbers felled in the AD 1770s. One apparently clear-cut result is in the Riding School roof, which appears to use trees exclusively felled in AD 1764. The correct interpretation of the results from other areas is obscure; the main alternatives are the use in these areas of some timber stockpiled before Thomas Worsley took up his London post or that there was a remodelling of these areas either following his period in London, or much later using recycled timbers. A group of oaks felled in AD 1992 from the estate woodlands are being used for the present repairs and samples from these and some thinned and wind thrown trees from AD 2000 provide a useful addition to the modern reference chronologies for North Yorkshire.
- Report Number:
- 80/2002
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
