Contact: Bob Edwards, ext 6513

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for a sum of £6,000 to be taken from the Environmental Record budget to be used for the production of a publication on timber-framed buildings in Hampshire.

2. Reason

2.1 To produce a book that describes the evolution of domestic houses in Hampshire through the medieval period. The evidence would be largely based on tree ring dates obtained through a dendrochronological project undertaken by the Hampshire Buildings Group and financially supported by Hampshire County Council.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to give a grant.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. The County Council has supported the study of medieval timber-framed buildings for many years, particularly through its financial support of dendrochronological surveys and the examination of medieval buildings in the small towns of the county (Timber-Framed Buildings Project). The majority of the survey work has been undertaken by or under the supervision of Mr Edward Roberts, the acknowledged expert on the timber-framing traditions of Hampshire.

8. The number of dendrochronological dates that have been collected (circa 90) means that Hampshire is second only to Shropshire in the number of such dates obtained by any English county. It is believed that the results of the surveys should be in the public domain, and a synthesis of the accumulated knowledge of Mr Roberts should be available to the people of Hampshire as well as the wider academic community. The publication will also publicly illustrate the long standing commitment Hampshire County Council has made to the understanding and conservation of the historic built environment.

9. The proposal is to produce a book that describes the evolution of domestic houses in Hampshire through the medieval period using as primary examples buildings that have been dated through dendrochronology. The chronologies of the various types of timber-framing traditions will be discussed using the accurate dating available, together with the evidence from substantial documentary research carried out by Mr Roberts. The volume will be a valuable handbook to dating and understanding the timber-framed buildings in Hampshire that are one of the most tangible links to our medieval ancestors.

10. It is intended that the book will be written and illustrated in such a manner that it will be accessible to those who have little technical knowledge about timber-framing. It will also be a sufficiently academic work that will make an important contribution to the knowledge of timber-framing in the south of England and will be useful to students of vernacular architecture. It is expected that the volume will appeal to a wide range of people, including local historians, archaeologists, architectural historians, conservation professionals, architects and surveyors, as well as people who live in or appreciate the contribution that timber-framed buildings make to the appearance and quality of the environment of the county.

11. On 4 December 2000 the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee approved the project together with a first instalment of £6,000. The overall cost of the project is estimated to be £12,000 for a print run of 1,000 copies as there is now a clearer picture of the number of words and illustrations required. The costs include the services of illustrators and a contribution towards the costs of one of the contributors who has travelled extensively within the county to record certain features to illustrate one of the chapters. The author and a second contributor are not being paid. The principal costs are associated with obtaining high quality illustrations and the publication costs. The volume will be published by Hampshire County Council as there are no other organisations making financial contributions.

12. It is intended that the publication will be sold at a retail price of £19.95, a special offer price of £15 for owners of properties included in the book and at a range of wholesale prices depending upon quantity purchased. One of the principal points of sale will be through the Environment Grouping's General Office but it is expected that one of the leading archaeological publication retailers will carry stock and so the volume will be advertised in its quarterly and annual catalogues distributed widely throughout this country and North America. Advertisement through relevant period and subject journals will also increase awareness of the publication. It is believed that the project will break even with sales of approximately 700 copies and the sale of all copies (excluding complimentary copies for authors, members etc) could show a profit of approximately £4,000.

6832/BE