thirteenth century hall-house at 17 South Street, Rochford, including the largest timber used in
the building, a joist 10 in. square. It appears 173 trees were used in the construction of the
building including 19 elms. The elm timber was identified as East Anglian Elm, which Rackham
now states is less common than English Elm in the area. The crooked and branching growth of
the trees indicate they came from a hedgerow or freestanding tree. Rackham also records elm
from a timber-framed building in Manuden with the lesser timbers of elm with chiselled 18th
century assembly marks.
Elm was probably used in a lot of minor buildings which have not survived the centuries. I
have seen elm used in barns at Cressing Temple, not the great barns but in two cart lodges on
the site. A manger at this same site is also possibly of elm.
Some elm timbers have been found in a wooden structure, so far unidentified, on the
foreshore at Tilbury Fort. I have seen elm used as panelling in the parlour bar of a public house,
the Live and Let Live, Forest Gate.
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