Table 3: Carpentry Details of Tree-ring Dated Late 12th/early 13th Century Aisled Halls

Tree-ring felling date

Type of building

Arcade braces

Central Truss Braces

Passing Braces

Notched Lap Joints

Scarf joint

Jowls or upstands

Tie-beam dovetail

Rafter collar assemby

Shape

Braces mortised or lapped

V' Mortise

 

Across Nave

Across Aisles

Centre & end trusses

Unrefined (U) Refined (R) Secret (S)

   

(normal assembly unless otherwise stated)

 

1167

-1185

Fyfield Hall, Essex

aisled hall

c.1400 braces form pointed arched

mortised

Two sets of passing braces - no other braces

Yes

Probably

Probably only in centre truss

U

none

rear upstands

housed dovetail with square entrance shoulder

housed barefaced dovetail

1176

-1221

Knights Templars' Hall, Temple Balsall, W Midlands

aisled hall

Straight

mortised

Yes

passing plus straight braces to tie

Yes

No

All trusses

R

short through edge splayed & tabled

rear upstands - arcade posts tapper up to top

barefaced 'V' dovetail in tie, strainer beam below

housed refined notched lap

1179

Bishops Palace, Hereford

aisled hall with clerestorey

Semi-circular arch

lapped

curved

No

None

-

none

?

?

?

1184

-1219

Westwick Cottage, Leverstock Green, Hemel Hemstead, Herts

aisled hall

Straight

mortised

Yes

Only passing braces

Yes

No

In centre & spere, not in end truss

U

none

rear upstands

through barefaced dovetail

1182

-1227

Newbury Farmhouse, Tonge, Kent

aisled hall

Semi-circular arch

mortised

No

Semi-circular and passing braces

Yes

Yes

only centre truss

None

none

rear upstands

mortised

1205

Sycamore Frm, Long Crendon, Bucks

aisled hall - possibly rebuilt 14th century of reused timber

curved

lapped

no

none

Yes

no

in both surviving trusses

U/R

none

rear upstands

?

through halving

1205

-1230

Barley Barn, Cressing, Essex

Barn

Straight

mortised

Yes

each truss - passing and straight braces to tie

Yes

Yes

All trusses

R

none

none - arcade posts tapper up to top

through bare-faced dovetail with splayed entry shoulder

unrefined through notched lap

1220

-1225

Harlowbury Hall, Harlow, Essex

aisled hall of Bury St Edmunds Abbey

Probably straight

mortised

?

passing and probably straight braces to tie

Yes

Un-certain

only centre truss

All

Edged halved;
Face splayed and stopped
Through splay (passing brace)

rear upstands

housed dovetail, some with square entry shoulder

mortised

No heartwood/sapwood boundary

after

1159

Burmington Manor, Warwickshire

aisled hall with stone walls & one crosswing

Semi-circular

lapped

No

Probably semi-circular & passing braces

Yes

No

In end & centre truss

U

none

none

 

housed notched lap