Talk: An Introduction to Tree-Ring Dating Buildings

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Talk: An Introduction to Tree-Ring Dating Buildings

  • UNDER 16 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN

Find out how specialists can trace the origins of a historic building by analysing the timbers used in its construction.

By Place Services

Date and time

Location

The Conference Room, Cressing Temple Barns

Witham Road Cressing CM77 8PD United Kingdom

About this event

  • Event lasts 20 minutes
  • UNDER 16 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN
  • Free venue parking

Join us for this 20-minute talk on how the analysis of tree rings can help us to date a building, being given as part of the Festival of Essex Archaeology & Heritage 2025.


Talk Summary

This talk will outline the method by which historic building timbers can be dated using tree-ring dating, also known as dendrochronology. Samples of the timber can be used to identify the exact year a tree was felled, providing insight into when a building might have been built. You will learn about how this technology has been used on local examples of buildings in Essex.


Presenter

This talk will be given by Dr Martin Bridge, Chair of the Essex Historic Buildings Group. He has over 40 years' experience in dendrochronological dating and has authored reports on a vast number of timber buildings across Essex and beyond.

This talk is part of the Festival of Essex Archaeology & Heritage, a fantastic new and FREE festival for anyone with an interest in archaeology, history and the heritage of Essex. Encounter some of the country’s leading experts and those involved in discovering, preserving and presenting the best of the county’s heritage. Meet experts and browse finds, enjoy children’s activities and re-enactments, talks, tours and so much more. For more information, please visit the Explore Essex website.

The full programme of talks and activities can be found in the event collection.

Details

Date: Thursday 24 July 2025

Start time: 11:00 am (please arrive 5 minutes before)

Duration: 20 minutes

Location: Conference Room, Cressing Temple Barns


This talk is free of charge. Please reserve a ticket to secure your place as numbers are limited.

On the day please bring your ticket to the checkpoint outside the lecture room. Please inform us in advance of any accessibility needs when filling out the booking form, or by emailing conservation.courses@essex.gov.uk.


Address and Directions

  • The festival will be held at Cressing Temple Barns, Witham Road, Cressing, Braintree CM77 8PD
  • Cressing Temple is situated on the B1018 between Braintree and Witham. Please follow the brown signs for the barns and access the site from the entrance on Temple Lane.
  • There is plenty of free parking at the visitor centre.
  • Please visit the Cressing Temple Barns website for more information.


Photography

Please be aware that photography and filming will take place at this event for promotional and archival purposes. Any photos and recordings may appear in our marketing materials and social media channels. If you do not consent to being filmed or photographed, please let a member of staff know on the day or email us at conservation.courses@essex.gov.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a ticket to enter the festival?

Tickets are not required to enter the festival. There will be lots of exhibits across the site, which are all free to attend with no booking required. Tickets are only required for the talks and activities being held in the Conference Room and the Craft Barn.

Do I need to book a ticket or can I just turn up on the day?

To guarantee a space on the talk, please book your ticket in advance, as there is limited capacity in the lecture room. We may be able to accommodate attendees without a ticket on the day if there is space. People will be allowed into the lecture room on a first come, first served basis.

How many tickets can I book? Does my ticket guarantee me a seat?

You can book up to 6 tickets at once. If you are booking for a large group, please contact as at conservation.courses@essex.gov.uk. All ticket holders are guaranteed a seat, but you cannot choose where you will sit in advance.

I have additional accessibility needs - can you accommodate me?

Please inform us in advance of any accessibility needs on the booking form or by emailing conservation.courses@essex.gov.uk. There is step-free access to all areas of the site being used for the festival, and disabled toilets located in the Visitor Centre and Granary Barn.

Organised by

Place Services

Place Services is the leading public sector provider of environmental assessment, planning, design and management services. We trace our roots back to 1968 and became a local authority traded service as part of Essex County Council in 2014. Our purpose is to help public sector organisations to deliver their role in sustainable development by conserving and enhancing the natural, historic and built environment and by achieving well-designed places. In doing so we achieve sustainable outcomes for the environment, whilst achieving value for money, and shared priorities for better places.

Free