Construction Phase Week 8
23rd
April
2013
April
2013
We are finally enjoying some warm weather!
On building 851 we have started the ridge capping, using a roll of wheat straw to provide a guide, we folded rush over the ridge and are going to secure it using a hazel sway on each side tied with willow. We should finish this tomorrow.
On building 851 we have started the ridge capping, using a roll of wheat straw to provide a guide, we folded rush over the ridge and are going to secure it using a hazel sway on each side tied with willow. We should finish this tomorrow.
Gareth removes the excess rafter from the roof of building 851.
The two types of thatch on building 848.
We have also started thatching on the other two buildings. On building 547 we are thatching a section using water reed. The reed is held in place using hazel sways, these are tied through to the ringbeams below with willow ties. We think that this makes a very neat finish.
Three layers of thatch on building 547.
While on building 848 we are using wheat straw attached in the same way as the water reed on building 547. We are also trying some experimental thatching using rush on the adjoining section of roof. We are using these test sections to establish which methods provide the best coverage.
24th
April
2013
April
2013
We have completed the ridge on building 851 today!
The sways were put in place over the folded rush and secured through with willow ties. We have also trimmed the ends of the wheat straw that were projecting out from under the rush.
The sways were put in place over the folded rush and secured through with willow ties. We have also trimmed the ends of the wheat straw that were projecting out from under the rush.
Luke trimming the wheat straw at the ridge.
Another two different thatching methods on building 848.
On building 848 we have finished two sections of thatching. One of the completed sections involves using grass to cover the roof structure, the other section is thatched using wheat straw.
25th
April
2013
April
2013
Another section of roof has been finished. The water reed thatching on one of the roof sections building 547 was completed today and now has a neat stepped finish.
Janey and Guy tie on a sway on building 547.
With the roof now complete we started to prepare the ground for the chalk floor in building 851. Our buildings are situated on a sloping site and so the first job today was to remove some of the turf from the upslope section. A layer of dry chalk was tamped into place to create a level surface then a wet mix of chalk is being laid on top, the smoothing of this with our hands is producing some lovely squelchy noises!
The dry chalk tamped into place.
The chalk floor being laid in building 851.