Late-Twelfth & Early-Thirteenth-Century Aisled Buildings: A Comparison

Abstract

The earliest extant timber-framed buildings identified by dendrochronology cluster around the late twelfth and early thirteenth century. Evidence from archaeological excavations suggests that the late twelfth century represents the threshold when fully timber-framed buildings start to appear. Some clarification has resulted from the discovery that a number of buildings once thought to be earlier have timbers felled in the mid-thirteenth century. At the time of writing (June 1999), nine timber-framed buildings have been dated with timbers felled before 1230; seven are aisled halls, one an aisled barn, and the ninth a church bell-tower. The aisled buildings are examined and compared here and consideration is given to when this building style is replaced.