The Development of Newark-on-Trent 1100–1750, as Demonstrated Through its Tree-Ring Dates

This article examines the results of an English Heritage funded dendrochronological research project undertaken by the University of Nottingham Tree-Ring Dating Laboratory. Twenty-one buildings in Newark-on-Trent, dating from the twelfth to the eighteenth century, were investigated, resulting in timbers from nineteen buildings being dated. Consideration is given to how phases of building activity might reflect the town's development, in particular how its medieval core and suburbs developed in relation to each other. Eight of the eleven earliest dated buildings, up to and including those of the fifteenth century, are in the ‘old borough’ of Newark. Although the ‘new borough’ was established by the thirteenth century, dates there are mainly sixteenth century or later. The stylistic and documentary dates ascribed to those buildings analysed have been compared with the tree-ring dating results. Eight of the nineteen buildings/phases dated stylistically or on documentary evidence are incorrect according the tree-ring dates. This is particularly pronounced amongst the fourteenth-century buildings dated, three of which have been demonstrated to be considerably earlier than previously thought. Lastly, it would appear there was a shift in the later fourteenth century from using locally sourced timbers to more varied and widespread sources

Ancient history · Archaeology · Borough · Dendrochronology · Fifteenth · Geography · Archaeological Research and Protection · Conservation Techniques and Studies · Historical Architecture and Urbanism · History · Tree-ring climate responses

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