What are the advantages of BARD?
BARD uniquely combines the ability to enter, update, search, summarise and archive data on both timber-framed and brick buildings (up to the mid-19th century), all online. A particularly useful feature is the searchable free-form text field, which can be used to record and search for “key” features (such as open-hall houses or queen post roofs), or other features of research interest.
A second unique feature of BARD is the “Tick-box” recording sheet. The “Tick-box” sheet provides a systematic way of recording the stylistic features in buildings and, because the common date ranges of “key” features are shown, it also helps in the dating of a building during its recording.
With internet access, you can instantly upload data, compare and share. All users are able to search the database, but the ability to add, amend and edit records is usually restricted to your own data.
How does BARD work?
From our knowledge of buildings that have already been tree-ring dated, we know the typical date ranges for some building archaeological features. BARD lets users systematically record and compare these archaeological features for their own house (or other building) on an easy-to-use tick-sheet, allowing the likely date of construction to be narrowed down.
Not sure what a queen strut looks like?
To help you understand all the terms used on the “Tick-box” sheet, you can download an illustrated glossary of all the building features. To ensure common nomenclature, the Council for British Archaeology’s (CBA) illustrated glossary of timber-framing terms has been used.
Access to BARD
Access to BARD is either free, or by a low level annual subscription. There are three levels of access as follows:
1) Free access. No help or support is available to free access users. NOTE: that a number of features such as mapping and links to external reference documents and 3D images are not available with free access. Please go to the Getting Started page for free access to BARD.
2) Individual researchers & recording group membership (Non-commercial / Educational use). Individual membership & recording group membership is available at a cost of £20 p.a. This provides access and support to add and amend building records to BARD
3) Full membership (Commercial use), or large group membership is available from a cost of £50 p.a. This also provides access and support to add and amend building records to BARD
If you would like a subscription access to BARD, or have further queries, please contact the database manager –
Dr Andy Moir, e-mail: akmoir@tree-ring.co.uk
Additional Information
Although not an on-line facility a photograph for each building is welcomed for uploaded to the database. To enable this, send a low resolution photo as an e-mail attachment to the database manager using the “Building reference number” as the file name for the photo.
System changes paid by whoever wants the change are considered, so long as the changes shall not compromise the principals of the database and the needs of the other users. By separate agreement and a small £10 fee, electronic copies of data segments in Microsoft Excel or Access format can also be provided for bona fide research.
Should you have any queries, problems or suggestions for improvements, please contact the database manager at the address above. Any accumulated surplus is used to develop the database or for the further acquisition of building data.