A Second Terrace of Crucks in Much Wenlock, Shropshire

Abstract

In 1992 the Much Wenlock cruck terrace 25–8 Barrow Street was shown to have comprised five cells dendrochronologically dated to 1435. One suggested interpretation was that the terrace was a row of medieval almshouses. At the time a further terrace of crucks at 16–18A High Street was suspected, but only since the whole row became fully residential has detailed examination been possible. Six bays survive, although numbering on the trusses indicates that it originally had eight bays. Investigation has revealed a purpose-built row of single-bay — or possibly two-bay — dwellings open to the roof and originally heated with open hearths. The similarity between the structures and known medieval almshouses may strengthen the possibility that either or both rows had an eleemosynary purpose.