I was lucky enough to visit a house in Mottisfont the other day that had a Tudor fireplace dendro dated to 1493 (late 15th century). It is the earliest wooden fireplace with carving I know of in Hampshire, do correct me if I’m wrong. I have seen plenty of stone ones around this period, but not wooden.
daisy wheel
It also has some ‘teardrops’ left from burning rush lights and a daisy wheel inscription to ward off witches and evil.
Are you only interested in late medieval timber framed buildings in Hants? I am commenting because we live in and own a stone built late medieval hall house, dated by David and Barbara Martin, Archaelogy South East, to c1300-1350. The Martins were the first to undertake such a survey back in 2004.
Dear Mr Dyer,
Thank you for your email. Yes at present I am only looking at hants as part of my phd, but once that is complete I do hope to expand east in sussex. I am aware of the Martins and their work. It is interesting that your property dates to before the Black Death, this is of particular interest to me. Perhaps I could find out more from you?
You are welcome to examine the Martin’s Report which I commissioned from them back in Summer 2004. The building had languished unrecognised in terms of its age and relative rarity until that time. I have only found a few comparable buildings, in terms of construction, dimensions and age. These are The Priests’ House, Muchelney, Somerset Levels, (1306) and The Old Post Office, Tintagel, (c1370), both owned by the NT. Numbers of surviving dwellings of modest size seem to increase exponentially after c1400.
The c1300-1350 timber beam over our Solar Bedroom fireplace is absolutely covered with these burned ‘tear marks’ I have long puzzled on what these are.
yes the ‘tear drop’ is a sure sign a rushlight has been used. They would dip the rush in tallow and place it in a small hole in the timber and use it like a candle. Typically the the rush sits above the burn mark and not below like most people think. It is not a result of the flame burning the wood but the tallow dripping down and scorching the wood.
i have surveyed about 26 pre Black Death (1350) buildings in Hampshire, about half of which are modest dwellings. There is a list at http://www.medievalarchitecture.net/dendrochronology.html
ps, you have to click on the grey bar near the very end of the page to open the list
“…also has some ‘teardrops’ left from burning rush lights and a daisy wheel inscription to ward off witches and evil.”
Timothy Easton has looked at candle / fire magic in the same cultural milieau which saw a veritable explosion of daisy wheel carving – and other signs – on wood and masonry. So the ‘teardrop’ might not be accidental here.
Thanks Ric, I just read your very intering article at http://www.darkdorset.co.uk/daisy_wheels I have been fortunate to have seen several daisy wheels on my travels and I find your interpretation enlightening.