The beams in the roof of Canterbury Cathedral that have been accurately dated to the year the trees were cut down

by Sian Napier

Archaeologists working on the restoration of Canterbury Cathedral have had wooden beams in its roof dated to the time of William the Conqueror and the Domesday Book.

Experts had long known the oak rafters of Anselm’s Tower in the south-east transept were from medieval times and among its oldest.

But a study by dendrochronologists confirmed the wood is from trees cut down in the year 1082, four years before the Domesday Book was written and during Lanfranc’s tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Dendrochronology is the science of finding out how old pieces of timber are by looking at the tree-rings they contain.

Nottingham Tree Ring Dating Laboratory was commissioned to date the oak supporting the lead roof of Anselm’s Tower, drilling small holes in the timbers before making an assessment.

Rupert Austin, Canterbury Archaeological Trust’s senior building recording officer, has been leading the project.

"We have known for some time that this was one of the oldest parts of the cathedral," he said. "We have this great medieval spire up there but until the lead roof came off to be replaced, we weren’t able to have a proper look at it and do these tests."

He added: "The vast majority of the cathedral roof has been destroyed and rebuilt over the years through various mishaps, mainly fires, so there are very few sections of medieval roof that remain."

Mr Austin said the wood was likely to have been chopped down in a forest close to Canterbury.

Its condition will be fully investigated, but much of it is thought to have stood the test of time well enough to be repaired rather than replaced.

Some timbers still bear the saw marks made when they were cut.