This contention is addressed, in Hampshire, through the physical surveying of 95 properties, and through the recalibration of Hewett by surveying 9 of his case studies, from outside the county, to act as a control set. A primary aim is to explore the wider material culture surrounding the late-medieval carpenter, to address Richard Harris’s suggestion that timber-framing was a result of “cultural activities” and, therefore, “no building form or method of construction was ever determined by timber, stone, rainfall or sunshine” (Harris 1989, 1). When this is taken into consideration, it is clear to see that an understanding of the “cultural activities” that occurred between 1250 and 1530, needs to be investigated in order to understand the structures designed and built within that culture, for that culture. As the collation of published works regarding the “crisis” of the 14th century will show, the attitudes toward death of the survivors of famines, wars and the Black Death (1348-50) changed. Chapter 6 will give evidence for how the shifting cultural values shifted in the wake of the pandemic through its depiction in art, burial, church architecture and social-economic upheaval. Though the study of such is well represented in the literature, especially with regard to the Black Death, it is how carpentry was affected by these “cultural activities” within Hampshire that is ground breaking.

Because the research included the photographic survey of joints using a digital camera, and locations recorded via a Global Positioning System (GPS), a computer based methodology was applied. This also permitted the creation of a geo-database that also included original graphical information, regarding the various joint types, through the medium of three dimensional (3D) modelling. The result of which is both novel and cutting edge within the field of buildings archaeology and dendro-archaeology and inextricably linked with the expansion of this dataset in the future. This will be facilitated by enabling researchers in other areas to access, query and ultimately update the information contained within. Therefore ensuring longevity and promoting the significance of this pilot, regional study. This also means that now it is possible to emulate this research by accessing the database, rather than the structures themselves. This may not be an issue for those researchers living within the area, but for peers researching from another country, the placing of the information online is invaluable.  Attention is therefore drawn throughout to the power of Information Communications Technologies (ICT), to illustrate how the ensuing data were managed and recorded.

The thesis, representing an unprecedented, systematic study of a near comprehensive corpus of scientifically dated structures in Hampshire between 1250 and 1530, is supported by references to printed primary sources and accompanied by an associated website http://www.medievalarchitecture.net/. The site was created to both support and disseminate the findings of this new research into joint typologies; together with engaging the wider community in interacting with a visual database, resulting from the unique photographic surveys. While the previous works of Cecil Hewett and Edward Roberts have greatly informed and inspired this research, the systematic recording of timber joints in Hampshire is unique to this project, and although regional in its scope, the novel methodology designed to record and collate the masses of data means the work can be expanded to incorporate other regional studies and ultimately inform a general examination of English Late-medieval carpentry in greater detail in the future.

In memory of my Mother, I know she was proud.
For my sons; Jazz, Reef and Felix, I hope this serves to inspire you to greater things.

My thanks go to:
The University of Winchester for believing in my researching and awarding me a full-time studentship and research bursary.
My supervisory team for their guidance and support;
Professor Tom Beaumont James, Dr Keith Wilkinson, Dr Amanda Richardson, and Edward Roberts Esq. author of Hampshire Houses 1250-1700: Their Dating & Development (2003).
A special thank you to Chrissie Ferngrove (Research & Knowledge Exchange Co-ordinator) for being such a fabulous friend and guide.

Other professionals who also helped;
Dr John Crook (Cathedral Archaeologist, Winchester), Dr Graeme Earl (Lecturer in MSc archaeological computing, University of Southampton), Dr Damian Goodburn (the Museum of London’s ancient timber specialist), Dr Daniel Miles (The Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory), Dr Tomasz Wazny (Cornell University Tree-Ring Laboratory).
Carlton Bath (Clerk of works to the Bishop of Winchester), Tim Tatton-Brown (Salisbury Cathedral archaeologist), Richard Harris (Director of the Weald and Downland museum), Ken Hume (independent medieval timber expert), Carole Ryan (lecturer in the history of buildings, Bournemouth University), Ralph Tyreman (clerk of works at Chichester Cathedral).

Dyslexia support, without whom this paper would be even harder to read;
Tracey Minall for proof reading, grammatical corrections and support. Although Tracey has aided in the correction of grammar and tense, the thoughts, ideas and text are of my own creation and therefore any remaining errors are of my own.
Dorset LEA for providing computing equipment, software and books. Without question, the use of Information communication Technologies (ICT) has made this thesis possible. It is a great enabler and helps build the confidence needed to approach such a large text based document.
The University of Winchester for catering for my epilepsy and dyslexia by providing software, hardware, dyslexia support and adjusting lighting conditions to mitigate photosensitivity.
Although the use of ICT has helped, as has the various proof readers, neither are flawless and naturally this thesis represents my own journey and therefore any errors, factual, literal and grammatical are all my own.

A special thank you must go to all the owners of the fabulous buildings I have been privileged enough to visit and survey. This thesis would not have been possible without their help, so thank you. This has enabled me to survey 90% of the buildings that have been dendrochronological dated in Hampshire between AD1250 and 1530. It was not possible to gain permission to survey the other 10%, either by refusal or the absence of a reply, although every effort was made.

And finally to my friends;
My girlfriend Tracey Minall for her love, support and ideas.
Dr Neil Brodie for proving it could be done, and inspiring me to do it.
Fellow PhD research students; Annie Kemp for love, support and providing the financial and physical means to survey the buildings, as well as providing the perfect place to study and live. Chris Lewis for the exchange of ideas. Charly Norton for friendship and a sofa to crash on in Winchester.