1) In early contexts, the scaffold was probably a temporary platform, supported on poles or trestles, which gave workmen access to the higher sections of the building that they were working on.
1354-5 Laur. Wrigth sublevante le skaffald in choro, Ripon
1360 Pro flekes emptis pro skaffald
1371 Et in cc de firspars pro le scaffold, York
1409 Et aliis necessariis pro scafald, Beverley
1485-6 tymber to mak the centres of the scaffyldes, Sheffield
c.1520 Johanni Henryson making scaffaldes, Ripon. A more complicated framework of platforms and poles required substantial amounts of timber: 1399 Item xviij magnć arbores pro scaffaldyng, precii 60s, York. Bridge building records have references from the fifteenth century: 1422 schaffoldynges, Catterick Bridge
1485-6 the centres of the scaffyldes, Lady’s Bridge in Sheffield.