“A technique making use of curved posts. . . existed in the thirteenth century both locally and within thirty miles to the East and West. It is therefore understandable that, before the end of the century, the wealthier tenants of Harwell … might build timber-framed houses, incorporating both cruck and base-cruck trusses, and that the Reeve in Harwell in 1311 should be named Reginald atte Cruck.”
The following buildings in Harwell contain crucks:
Church Lane
Dell Cottage 1425 ± 50 years
Le Carillon (now Church Farm) 1430 ± 60 years
Lockton’s Farm (outhouse) 1325 ± 50 years
Wellshead Lane
Holywell Cottage
H.S. Baker’s 1265 ± 40 years
Jennings Lane
School House 1525 ± 40 years
Townsend
Pomander House
High Street
Drewett’s shop (demolished)
Ben Bowen says
I was born in Pomander House in October 1959. Not sure how long my parents lived there, but they moved to Oxford in 1964. My dad worked at what was then known as AERE Harwell.
Ian Josey says
Ben
On the front page of Berkshire Family Historian a photo of Pomander cottage is shown.
I’m trying to trace family history based in Harwell – did you ever find a list of previous owners or indeed know of a useful avenue to chase ?
Thanks for posting the comment giving me a start !
Regards,
Ian Josey