Timber Framing Week!

Last week volunteers at Butser had the opportunity to learn how to construct a timber frame building and at the same time help to build a new animal feed and grain store on the site. An empty shell of a timber frame building has been on the site since I started work on the farm and it was decided that we would take the opportunity to half term to try and get as much of the build done as possible!

'The timber frame shell that has been on the site for over two year!'

Timber Frame expert and friend of the farm Matt Melton was asked to come and impart his knowledge to us in building timber frame buildings. We had just a week to learn all the skills that we needed to finish the build before Matt had to leave us.

Volunteers learnt everything from wattling the side frames, making shingles for the roof, scribing and cutting accurate joints and erecting roof beams!

'Katherine and Phoebe wattling the side panels which will later be clunched'.

 

'Matt helps Sam and Will position a hip into place'

 Although it will take many more weeks to complete the building and for it to be ready to be used for food storage, during the intense training week we learnt the skills needed to complete the building ourselves.

My favourite part of the week was learning how to cut a nice straight cut with a saw. After years of cutting slightly wonky edges I now have the power to cut a nice straight line good enough to use in a timber framed building!

A big thank you to all the volunteers who helped and made the week so much fun and to Matt for a very intense training session! I hope that many more will come and help us finish the building!

For more photos of the build visit the Butser Ancient Farm Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/20504248963/