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In architecture, particularly in England, a cruck is a curved timber, one of a pair, which supports the roof of a building.
Crucks were chiefly in use in the medieval period for structures such as large tithe barns. However, where naturally curved timbers were convenient and available, carpenters continued to use them at much later dates. For instance, base crucks are found in the roofs of the residential range of Staple Inn Buildings, Nos. 337 - 338, High Holborn, London. This is dated by documented records to 1586, with significant alterations in 1886 (under Alfred Waterhouse) and further restorations in 1936, and 1954-5. Despite these changes, an authority on English Historic Carpentry, Cecil Hewett, is clear that these 16th century crucks are original.
During the current revival of green oak framing for new building work, which has occurred mainly since approximately 1980 in the UK, genuine cruck frames have quite often been included in traditionally carpentered structures. There are also some fine, historically-authentic reconstructions. For instance, Pilton Barn, Glastonbury, whose original roof was destroyed by lightning, has been carefully rebuilt in 2005 from curved oaks. The necessary trees were sought out, using special templates, in English woodlands.
The large main barn of the manor house Barlow Woodseats Hall features what is claimed to be the longest continuously roofed cruck barn in Derbyshire, and possible even in the United Kingdom.
An example of a Yorkshire cruck barn complete with a heather thatched roof can be found in Appletreewick: see [1]. The crucks or cruck "blades" are a single oak tree riven (split) in two to form an equally shaped A frame.
References
Ross, P., Mettem, C. and Holloway, A. (2007). Green Oak in Construction. TRADA Technology. ISBN 978 1900510 45 5. Hewett, Cecil A. (1980). English Historic Carpentry. Philimore, 231-233. ISBN 0 85033 354 7.
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