So, after 12 years of living at Croftfoot, High Blantyre, we finally got round to putting some lights and flooring down up the loft in the house and adjacent studio. However, whilst this was being done recently, something interesting occurred to me, which I thought I’d share here.
Our house is old, and I mean…old. Built in 1730, some 16 years BEFORE the Battle of Culloden! In the roof space, it’s clear the original rafters and beams are still there, though in the last decade I’ve replaced a few due to localised woodworm.
Now here’s the remarkable bit. Whilst I was looking at the end of one of the main beams spanning the apex, I could see the end cut, a cross section, allowing me to count the “tree rings”. Knowing 1 ring means 1 years growth in timber, I counted 141 rings on the beam end.
Taking 141 from the year 1730, proves that the dark, hardwood timber used to form the roof in my home was actually growing on trees during the 1500’s !! How about that!?
This old house has uncovered fireplaces, voids in walls and even a warm blessing tucked away in the wall written by the house owner in 1803! At the other end of the studio roof void, next to my own home, is also an old bricked up doorway….but assuring you it’s of lesser interest, that’s a story for another day!
Amazing Paul! Along with your several other “discoveries”.
I know maintaining a house that old has many challenges, but your interest in history is to your houses’ good fortune.
Thank goodness something of that age has not been pulled down and replaced in the name of progress as has happened to too many much younger Blantyre buildings.
There are still pockets of old buildings I love to see on every visit. Strangely enough, a couple are pubs!