|
Old Post
Office and the Old Stores have both yielded post-1500 dates
for the specific parts of the structures that were sampled.
In all probability there are earlier parts in both but these
may not contain datable timbers.
There
is significant diversity in the forms, ages and growth rates
of the trees used both within and between the different properties
analysed. The tree-ring data and its pattern of matching to
local and non-local data sets clearly indicates that almost
all of the Pembridge material is probably derived fairly locally
but there seems little evidence to suggest that any are coming
from the same woodlands. It suggests the woodland of the area
was still extensive and diverse in the 15th century. Some
of the shorter and less well replicated sequences would have
been difficult to date without the data from some of the other
properties. The samples from Wheelwrights, West End Farm,
and the Gatehouse would have been difficult to date without
the data acquired from The Garth and the Greyhound. Following
on from this the subsequently analysed material from the Pembridge
Market Hall would also have been undatable without the Old
Post Office sequence, and even more astonishingly it has been
discovered that a previously undated group of 9 timbers from
the Bell Tower are also clearly matching the chronologies
produced for this project, the clear implication of this is
that there is a group of 15th century timbers in the Bell
Tower structure. These will have to be re-examined from a
structural perspective in order to determine what it means
for the developmental sequence of that building.
|