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The opening photographs were a reconstruction of a heather thatched, cruck building in Appletreewick. Such buildings no longer exist in Craven; however Sue then went on to demonstrate that there are a number of cottages and barns around the area still with the tell-tale steep pitch to the roof or a cruck shape visible where it has been incorporated into a later gable end wall.
This set the scene for the detective work needed to study vernacular buildings. By examining old documents and maps as well analysis of the building fabric, much can be discovered. A number of examples of information gleaned using these techniques were given, the most detailed being for The Red Lion in Skipton.
The earliest reference for the building as The Red Lion is found in a document of 1684 however another document concerns the lease of a farm, stable, stockyard etc. on the site in 1634. The back of the building has a recessed chamfered mullion window typical of the 17th century, visible in the interior are a number of interesting stone fireplaces and a wall post of a timber box frame. To add to these features a survey done a number of years ago during alterations recorded a roof truss and wall of a late medieval service block, this shows that where old buildings are concerned, what you see is not necessarily what you get!
Sue explained that early in the 17th century timber buildings were rendered in stone and that locally evidence of this transition had been found in the form of wooden mullions discovered fossilised within a house and also discarded in an outhouse. She then expressed the hope that when discoveries of historically important architectural features are made, the people concerned would recognise their value and insure that they were recorded and if possible preserved.
Finally mention was made of The Skipton Community Research Project of which Sue is the Project Co-ordinator. This aims to produce a set of building records for the historic core of the town, containing photographs, historical information from published and archive source, maps and archaeological information.
The talk was enthusiastically received by members of Upper Wharfedale Heritage Group as well as a number of visitors.
Pat Carroll (Secretary UWHG)
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