SDO14584 - Tree-ring Analysis of Timbers from the Abbey Barn, Manor Farm, Mill Lane, Symondsbury, Dorset

‘Core samples were obtained from eight different oak timbers comprising pad-blocks and the remains of raised cruck blades embedded in the north wall of the Abbey Barn, at Manor Farm, Symondsbury, Dorset. Analysis by dendrochronology produced three site chronologies, SYMBSQ01 - 03, comprising 2 samples each, and having overall lengths of 57, 60, and 66 rings respectively. The first site chronology, SYMBSQ01 (representing a pad-block from truss 9 and the upper cruck blade of truss 7), can be dated as spanning the years 1414 - 1470. It is estimated that the timbers have a felling date sometime between 1485 and 1510. The second site chronology, SYMBSQ02 (representing the pad-blocks of trusses 10 and 11), can also be dated, the rings spanning the years 1502 - 1561. It is estimated that these timbers have a felling date sometime between 1575 and 1600. Although the t-values of the cross-matches for the third and final site chronology, SYMBSQ03 (representing the pad-blocks of trusses 5 and 6), are not particularly high, they are significant and cannot be ignored. The rings of this site chronology appear to span the years 1531 to 1596, suggesting that the timbers represented are likely to have been felled sometime between were felled sometime between 1608 and 1633. It would appear, therefore, that while some of the timber is of the date suggested for the barn on the basis of stylistic evidence, some pieces may be later, and may represent insertions made during repairs.’