Book Reviews

Abstract

A recent paper on the origin of crucks (Hill, VA 36) relies on the linguistic roots of the word furca, to suggest that it refers to forked posts rather than cruck blades, and that cruck construction did not appear until c. 1250. This response proposes that Hill's linguistic arguments are untenable. The evidence of both standing buildings and documents is only consistent with crucks having a much earlier origin, probably in the early twelfth century, with base-crucks appearing in about 1200.