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Dendrochronological dating of early doors

Detail of 12th century church door, Buttsbury
The 12th century north chancel door to Rainham church
The 12th century north nave door to Buttsbury church

Tree-ring dating of early doors has helped to understand the development of door making, appreciate just how old some functioning doors are, and has revealed that the boards used in many medieval doors were imported from the Baltic region.

Two eleventh century doors have been identified (both in everyday use) and many other doors have been scientifically dated.

Related outputs

  • Bridge, M. and Miles, D. Dendrochronologically Dated Doors in Great Britain. Accepted for publication in Regional Furniture 2012.
  • Bridge, M.C. (2012) Locating the origins of wood resources: a review of dendroprovenancing. Journal of Archaeological Science
  • Miles, D. and Bridge, M. (2010) The Chapter House Doors and their Dating. Chapt 14 in: Westminster Chapter House: the history, art and architecture of ‘A Chapter House Beyond Compare’, Eds Rodwell, W and Mortimer, R., Society of Antiquaries, London.
  • Bridge, M and Miles, D. (2009) - Church of St Helen and St Giles, The Broadway, Rainham, London Borough of Havering: Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers from the South Chancel Door. English Heritage Research Dept Rep, 69/2009.

Funding

  • English Heritage (Westminster Abbey doors and Rainham Church door)
  • Essex Heritage Fund (Buttsbury church door)

Project Leader:

Project Partners:

  • Dr Dan Miles, Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory

Keywords:

Further information:

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