TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF TIMBERS FROM 39 STRAND STREET, SANDWICH, KENT
Author(s): Alison Arnold, Robert Howard, R R Laxton, Cliff Litton
Ten Samples were taken from oak timbers at these premises for dendrochronological analysis. Two of these were later rejected; SND-B08 and SND-B10 have very short ring-width sequences, which would have made successful dating unlikely. This analysis resulted in the construction of two site sequences. The first SNDBSQ02, has 134 rings, and was successfully matched at a first ring date of AD 1201 and a last-ring date of AD 1334. Three of the samples contained within this site sequence, SND-B06, SND-B07 and SND-B09 have complete sapwood and last-ring dates of AD 1334, this being the felling date for the three timbers represented. The heartwood/sapwood boundary ring date for the fourth sample in the site sequence, SND-B05, is also consistent with a felling date of AD 1334. The second site sequence, SNDBSQ03, has 94 rings and was successfully matched at a first ring date of AD 1241 and a last-ring date of AD 1334. One of the two samples which go to make up this site sequence, SND-B04 has complete sapwood and a last-ring date of AD 1334, this being the felling date of the timber represented. The heartwood/sapwood boundary ring date for the second sample in the site sequence, SND-B03, is again consistent with a felling date of AD 1334. The analysis has resulted dating of six timbers, three joists and three internal timbers, four to AD 1334, with the other two having felling date ranges, entirely consistent with this date. This suggests a construction date at or soon after this time. The remaining samples could not be dated.
- Report Number:
- 97/2001
- Series:
- Research Department Reports
- Pages:
- 19
- Keywords:
- Dendrochronology Standing Building
