Dating a house?

[willpalin]

How can you determine the age of part of a house, specifically by a recently uncovered fireplace with two bread ovens and carved stones carefully masoned - at least 16th centuary - possibly much earlier? The Victorians 'modified' this part of the building so no early roof remains and the original beam above the inglenook was cut out.
Title Deeds only go back to the early 20th Centuary
There is evidence of a number of changes to roof and floor heights.
It also appears that the original building was devided in two with an internal stone wall (that is not tied to the external walls) together with an internal inglennok circa 1500s
What did Manor Houses in the 11th Centuay look like in the West of England? Could this be a Domesday house?
Any clues would be much appreciated, Cheers, Will

[noxlumos]

Not many doomsday houses to be honest , at least in their original form. My house mainly dates from about 1450 but there is what's left of an older section at the back which is nearer 1300 I would guess.
Your carved stones might be the best for dating and also the nature of the bread ovens. When you say bread ovens where exactly in relation to the fire itself are these? Directly above? To the side etc? How many etc? Got any pics, I'd be really interested to see.

[jake-the-peg]

Here's another website you might be interested in Will

http://www.today.plus.com/houses/

Although it's mostly about wood framed ones there a few points about chimneys.

SPAB (the society for the preservation of historic buildings) should also be on your list http://www.spab.org.uk and the same for period property http://www.periodproperty.co.uk

It's unlikely your house is quite as old as the 11th Century there were few stone buildings then but you can search for you village on-line in the domesday book here:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/domesday/