The mystery surrounding the true age of Ledbury’s iconic Master’s House was finally laid to rest last week thanks to an in-depth study carried out by experts from English Heritage.
The results of the study were presented to members of Ledbury Town Council and the public by English Heritage’s Inspector of Historic Buildings Nick Molyneux, at a meeting in the Master’s House on December 11.
The study, which took the form of tree-ring or Dendrochronology dating from 16 samples, revealed a date of 1617.
The report says: “It is now known that at least one timber utilised within the construction of the building was felled in 1617, with it thought quite likely that a number of other timbers were also felled at this time.
“These dated timbers are from a ground floor post and ceiling beams, a rail and posts of the upper storey and timbers of the roof.”
In presenting the study’s findings, Mr Molyneux said: “It finally places this building in history, it’s about being absolutely certain.”
Mr Molyneux also said he did not believe the building was created by the ‘Kings Carpenter’ John Abel.
He said: “The buildings we know he built are quite different stylistically with elaborate carvings.”
He added that the timber used was very much of the local region and poured cold water on the theory that the building contained Spanish Chestnut timber, describing it as a common myth.
It has been suggested that the building had been created later than 1617 or was constructed over a longer period of time; another theory dispelled by the report.
It says: “When these samples are sorted by heartwood/ sapwood boundary date, it can be seen that there is no significant variation, which might suggest construction of these various elements occurred over an extended period of time; rather, it would seem to indicate a single phase of construction in or soon after the felling of timbers in AD 1617.”
In attendance was local timber-framed historic building expert Duncan James, who carried out his own study on the building in 2006, and was the first to cast doubt on the theory that Abel was the creator.
Ledbury Town Council resolved to proceed with the study at no cost after a vote in January following a presentation from English Heritage’s Jane Siddell.