The tree- ring analysis of eight wood samples from a beaver dam is described. Oak, ash, and alder were identified, two of the ash samples possibly showing evidence of beaver activity. No crossmatching was obtained either within or between species, nor did any of the ring sequences produce absolute dates. This suggests that the site has poor potential for dendrochronological dating.
37/94
THE TREE-RING DATING OF CHARLTON COURT BARN, STEYNING,
WEST SUSSEX
Mr Dan Miles
Number of pages - 19
Seventeen samples were taken from twelve timbers from the barn at Charlton Court, Steyning, West Sussex (TQ 1690 1185). Six of the timbers sampled were from the presumed first phase of the building, comprising bays 4-6, whilst the remainder were taken from what was thought to be a later in-line extension. Both parts of the building produced felling dates in the winter of 1404/5, with the exception of one king-post which was felled in the winter 1405/6.
38/94
THE TREE-RING DATING OF ST MARY'S CHURCH, FROME ST
QUINTIN, DORSET
Mr Dan Miles
Number of pages - 6
Six samples were obtained from St Mary's Church, Frome St Quintin, Dorset (ST 599 026) during recent repairs. Of these, two matched together to form a site master of 60 rings but this failed to date. The other four samples were also tested against the reference chronologies but they too failed to date conclusively.
39/94
THE TREE-RING DATING OF THE PRIEST'S HOUSE MUSEUM, 23-
27 HIGH STREET, WIMBORNE MINSTER, DORSET
Mr Dan Miles
Number of pages - 13
The Priest's House Museum, 23- 27 High Street, Wimborne Minster, Dorset (SZ 010 000) was sampled on 2 October 1992. Fifteen cores were extracted, eight from the main range and seven from the northern cross- wing. Of these samples, four from the main range had complete sapwood while the cross- wing similarly had three. Two samples from the main range dated, one with complete sapwood giving a felling date in the late summer/autumn of AD 1634. Three samples from the cross- wing also dated, giving a last measured ring date of 1545. As none of these last three samples had any sapwood or heartwood- sapwood transition, a terminus post quem of 1555 has been offered for the felling date range, but it is likely the timbers were felled quite sometime after this. Ten other samples, five of which formed two additional site sequences, failed to date either with the dated samples from the site or with the national and regional reference chronologies. Nevertheless, the site produced a 376 ring chronology which should prove useful in dating future sites in the area.
40/94
THE TREE-RING DATING OF MOLENICK FARMHOUSE, ST GERMANS,
CORNWALL
Mr Dan Miles
Number of pages - 9
Seventeen samples from fifteen timbers were obtained from Molenick Farmhouse, St Germans, Cornwall (SX 612 335). Of these, four samples matched together to form a sequence of 60 rings. This, as well as the longer individual samples were compared against the reference chronologies but failed to date conclusively. The tree- ring dating did, however, show that the Hall and the Screen appear to be coeval, as is the north- west wing.
41/94
THE TREE-RING DATING OF EASTLEIGH MANOR, WESTLEIGH, DEVON
Mr Dan Miles
Number of pages - 10
Twelve timbers were sampled at Eastleigh Manor, Westleigh, Devon (SS 488 280) from both the principal upper chamber and the northwest wing. Of these, only one sample from the principal upper chamber dated conclusively with a last measured ring date of AD 1474. With a last heartwood ring date of 1473, an estimated felling date range of 1483- 1528 is given. The wing remains undated. Of the other samples taken, there was no other internal matching and one or two samples which visually appeared to be from the same tree also failed to match significantly.
44/94
TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF OAK TIMBERS FROM THE TOWER OF ALL
SAINTS' CHURCH, BRIXWORTH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
Miss Jennifer Hillam
Number of pages - 5
Tree-ring analysis was undertaken to date the oak timbers in the tower and to determine whether any primary timbers survived in this Saxon church. The timbers in the belfry and clock tower proved either unsuitable or undatable but two of the beams below the ringing chamber were dated. They were probably felled in the period AD 1422- 25.
61/94
TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF OAK TIMBERS FROM LANCIN FARMHOUSE,
WAMBROOK, SOMERSET
Ian Tyers
Number of pages - 11
Dendrochronological analysis of oak timbers from Lancin Farmhouse, Wambrook, Somerset, has resulted in the production of a precise felling date of AD 1533/4 for some timbers from a later roof phase. The quality of the timbers used for most of the earlier phases prevented successful analysis. A number of observations are made concerning the use of unusual species of timbers for some elements of the structure.
64/94
DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE TITHE BARN,
ENGLISHCOMBE, NEAR BATH, AVON, 1994
Cathy Groves and Jennifer Hillam
Number of pages - 12
Dendrochronological analysis of samples from the medieval tithe barn at Englishcombe resulted in the production of a tree-ring chronology spanning the period AD 1157- 1304. A felling date range of AD 1314- circa 1358 was obtained for two timbers, whilst the other dated timbers had termini post quem for felling in the latter half of the thirteenth century.
65/94
TREE-RING ANALYSIS OF ROMAN PILES FROM PEVENSEY CASTLE,
EAST SUSSEX
Ian Tyers
Number of pages - 11
Dendrochronological analysis of a group of waterlogged Roman piles excavated at Pevensey Castle, East Sussex, has resulted in the production of a chronology dating from AD 131- 270 inclusive. The timbers appear to have been felled between c AD 280 and c AD 300, although precise felling dates are not obtainable due to the condition of the surviving timbers. The result illuminates aspects of the site phasing and provides the first tree- ring dated evidence relating to installations from the 'Saxon Shore'.