Hi Ray,

Poplar is used in timber frame construction and can be very long lived in that use. Positive confirmation has been obtained from Kew Gardens laboratory that black poplar was used for the cruck blades in the Cholstrey cruck barn now located at The Avoncroft Museum (frequent venue for the UK Carpenters Fellowship annual Frame event).

I am currently recording a cruck house in Oxfordshire that has elbowed crucks and I think that these are black poplar (populus nigra). These trees are still present in the village centre growing beside the chalk streams and so it should really be no surprise that poplar could be found in local buildings and mills.

We have lots of populus canadensis growing in England and this variety grows straight and tall and might be a lot more useful than we currently understand since this species is a cross between p. nigra and p. deltoides. Lombardy poplar (p. plantierensis) is also a fastigiate sub species of black poplar and so should provide useful timber.

I recently purchased a copy of "The Black Poplar" by Dr Fiona Cooper first published in 2006 by Windgather Press [ISBN 1-905119-05-4). This book is currently on sale at Oxbow Books in Oxford, UK for £5.00 ($8.00) (http.www.oxbowbooks.co.uk). They have a US distributor (http://www.oxbowbooks.com/home.cfm/Location/DBBC)

I have written to Rob Haddon this morning to discuss his experiences with Lombardy poplar and will keep you informed on any relevant information contained in his reply. Mark Davidson (Ontario) has sawed white poplar and I am sure that he would share his experiences of working with this timber with you.

I would be keen to hear more about the use of black poplar or sub species in timber frame buildings.

Regards

Ken Hume