Dating timber in the house

[Shelagh]

Hello My house was rebuilt and modified in 1622 (we have the details) so there are beams and window frames from all periods. I would love to know which beams are the oldest and which pre dates 1622. With the use of reclaimation yards in the last twenty or thirty years it is also difficult to know what is original and what is brought in. We openned up an attic ceiling and found the original carpenters marks engraved in the joists so there are lots of clues. I am not sure how to find the best person to help with this.

 

[shelli]

you need the services of a house detective - Cue Nemesis with helpful link

 

[another_richard]

For an invasive technique try the services of a dendrochronologist, might be expensive though.

 

[Shelagh]

Thank you for your ideas. I have lived in this house for ten years and nothing ever seems to be cheap and simple. Taking on a period house is like taking on another member of the family! I would like to follow this up though so I will see what I can find on the web.

 

[Penners]

As others have suggested, dating a timberframe house can be an incredibly difficult job. Even dendrochronology isn't reliable, unless you have a real expert who is able to confirm that the particular piece of timber being dated is part of the absolutely original structure.

And even then, it's not impossible that the original construction incorporated some re-used timbers.

The design of the timberframe structure and the types of joints used are often helpful in the dating process. But you would need to find a local expert to advise on this, because these features varied considerably from area to area.

Your comment about the introduction of reclaimed timbers within the last twenty or thirty years highlights the desirability of using new oak for repairs or modifications. This avoids the confusion caused by "anachronistic" timber.

I haven't been much help, have I? Have you tried talking to your local history society? They might have a member, or know of someone, who could be of help to you. It's also worth browsing around your local library for books on the local architecture. Cecil Hewett is an author worth looking out for - he's written a number of books on the subject, although I'm not sure how much he has covered in Sussex. His work on Essex is pretty definitive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books/s?ie=...l A Hewett&field-author=Cecil A Hewett&page=1

 

[middi]

Thanks Penners, it saves me wrighting exactly what you have explained.

 

[Gervase]

...and as a further caveat, the last time I Iooked into it, dendrochronological dating cost upwards of £300 per sample.

 

[Carol]

Why not see if there is a vernacular architecture group in your area? In Avon and Somerset many of the oldest villages and houses have been surveyed over the last twenty years and the group members are a mine of information. Our place was 'done' fifteen years ago before we moved here and the paper written about it is full of the sort of things you are curious about. Members have also been back since to look at other bits we have uncovered as we gradually restore it. Dendro-dating is a part of the dating process, but those 'in the know' also use the joint construction and style to come up with a date range. Experts also disagree and the jury is still out on whether we were or were not jettyed (or is it jettied?) originally. Our two delightful visitors almost came to blows over their differing opinions!

 

[Penners]

Troublemaker!

 

[middi]

Actually Carol it should be extremely easy to find out if your house was jettied, the last beam that usually disintegrates on an oak framed building is the intermediate beams at either side of the building (where the ground and upper floor walls studs are are morticed into it). If it was jettied the dovetails at the front end of these beams (where the jetty bressumer interlocked) should still be there albeit probably hidden under later added buiding fabric. These dovetail cut out shoud be ( usually) between one and two feet from the front end of the building.

 

[middi]

As Penners earlier suggested, without ( a hit and miss !!) dendrochronology result, or a stamped building dated on the building or a record that can be traced back, the approximated building date (even by experts) can differ easily by 50 years.

It is worth checking all avenues, especially the records office ( if you have the time of course).