SDO15152 - Abbey Barn, Abbotsbury, Dorset. Roof Repairs 2005-2006: Archaeological Report

‘Archaeological details of fabric materially affected by repair of the structure and covering of the roof of the Abbey Barn at Abbotsbury in Dorset were recorded between March 2005 and May 2006. The present roof, of forelock-bolted collar-tied form covered with water reed and a combed wheat ‘reed’ thatch is of early 18th or late 17th century origin, but had been extensively repaired in antiquity and more recently. It replaced an arch-braced crown post roof structure with integral eaves gutters and spouts that was probably covered, initially, with stone roof slates. Relic timbers of the original roof structure survive in the face of the cross wall that divides the roofed and un-roofed halves of the barn, but are not suitable for dendrochronological dating. A typological date of mid 15th century is suggested, which corresponds with dates ascribed by previous studies of the barn. The repairs were intentionally conservative: all archaeologically significant fabric has been retained in-situ’