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Martin Bridge helps reveal north London's medieval past
7 January 2021
Martin Bridge (UCL Institute of Archaeology) has dated premises in north London to the 14th century, following the analysis of timbers uncovered during refurbishment.
An empty shop on Chipping Barnet High Street听in north London hid an extraordinary secret, which has recently been uncovered听- the building dates from the Middle Ages. The premises听were听in the process of being refurbished听to be opened as听a florist shop when the building's original wooden structure was uncovered.
Historic England commissioned the听Institute's Lecturer in Dendrochronology, Martin Bridge, to investigate听and undertake an analysis of the timbers, which have been听dated听to the 14th century.听听The听oldest samples听were from trees that had been felled between 1330 and 1362 when听Chipping Barnet would have been听a market town in Hertfordshire.听
Martin has indicated that this was a "completely unexpected find behind a modern shopfront."