Halesowen Abbey, Dudley, Birmingham, West Midlands: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers

Author(s): Alison Arnold, Robert Howard

Tree-ring analysis undertaken on the timbers of this barn resulted in the construction and dating of two site sequences. The first contains 21 samples and spans the period AD 1310–1535. One sample was felled in AD 1507 with a further 11 having an estimated felling date range consistent with them also being felled in AD 1507. Of the other nine samples, eight could have been felled in AD 1507 but one has a significantly later last-measured ring date, which means the earliest it could have been felled is the mid-sixteenth century. The majority of these samples are from timbers which were clearly reused. The second site sequence contains three samples, all from timbers thought to be primary, and spans the period AD 1598–1672. Two of these samples were felled in AD 1672, with the third also thought likely to have been felled in AD 1672. Prior to dendrochronology, this barn was dated stylistically to the seventeenth century and was known to contain reused timber. It is now thought likely that construction of the barn occurred in or soon after felling of some of its timbers in AD 1672 and utilised a large number of reused timbers of AD 1507.

Report Number:
90/2008
Series:
Research Department Reports
Pages:
42
Keywords:
Dendrochronology Standing Building

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