Harcourt Arboretum Craft Shelter
We are running the project as a series of courses throughout May, taught by renown timber frame practitioner and instructor Henry Russell. They are suitable for anyone who is reasonably fit: Beginners need no experience just a willingness to have a go, and Improvers will get to build a cruck frame, broaden their repertoire of timber species, plus hand conversion (converting the timber from round log/milled out slab, into squared up timber) techniques; hewing and frame sawing.
Part One: 6th - 10th May, repeated 13th - 17th May: Walls and Cross frames.
Both weeks of part one will cover the same material, but work on different parts of the building. A wall frame will be laid up with plat run scarfs, and braces and posts scribed in, and cut with their mortice and tenon joints. The cross frames will encompass English Tying joints and what we’ve all been waiting for... the Cruck!
Part two: 20th - 24th May: Roofing
A combination of “open†and “closed†trusses, scarfed purlin and ridge runs, scribed in wind braces, and common rafters utilising small section and/or round timber. We will also have a go at pegs and roof shingles.
Raising: 29th and 30th June
All students will be invited to come back and put the building up!
We will accomplish this with the aid of a Gin Pole: a large tree trunk guyed to the ground, with a block and tackle at the top. The lift is supplied by a bunch of “willing volunteers†hauling on the rope. Enthusiasm a must – good fun guaranteed!
The cost for each week is £375, which includes daily lunch and refreshments, and free camping on site at Harcourt for those who want to.
For more information or to book your place contact the course administrator, Barbara on barbara@carpentersfellowship.co.uk
