Archaeologists working on the restoration of Canterbury Cathedral have had wooden beams in its roof dated to Norman times.
Experts had long known the oak rafters of Anselm’s Tower in the Cathedral’s South East Transept were among its oldest.
But a recent study by dendrochronologists confirmed the wood is from trees cut down in the late 11th Century – around the time of William the Conqueror, the Doomsday Book and Lanfranc’s tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.
Dendrochronology is the science of finding out how old pieces of timber are by looking at the tree-rings they contain. The Nottingham Tree Ring Dating Laboratory was commissioned to date the oak supporting the lead roof of Anselm’s Tower, drilling small holes in the timbers in situ before making an assessment.
Rupert Austin, Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s Senior Building Recording Officer, has been leading the project.
“We have known for some time that this was one of the oldest parts of the Cathedral, that we have this great Medieval spire up there,” he said. “But until the lead roof came off to be replaced we weren’t able to have a proper look at it and do these tests.”
“The vast majority of the Cathedral roof has been destroyed and rebuilt over the years through various mishaps, mainly fires, so there are very few sections of Medieval roof that remain.”
“If it’s a good sample it can tell you when the timber was felled,” Mr Austin said, adding that the wood was likely to have been chopped down in a forest close to Canterbury.
The condition of the 11th Century wood will now be fully investigated, but much of it is thought to have stood the test of time well enough to be repaired rather than replaced, meaning the timbers are likely to stay in place well past their 1000th anniversary. Some timbers still even bear the saw marks made when they were first cut.
“There’s been quite a lot of repair work done already through the centuries,” Mr Austin said. “And it does need quite a lot of attention now.”
Throughout 2009-10, Cathedral craftsmen will be working on Anselm’s Tower, a major pillar of the current conservation appeal.
Matthew Butler, chief executive of the Canterbury Cathedral Appeal said: “It is amazing to discover yet another part of the Cathedral that takes us back to the Normans.
“We need many millions of pounds to conserve Canterbury Cathedral for future generations – £90,000 for Anselm’s Tower alone.”
