The Oxfordshire Woodland Group sponsored Jeremy Hunter to attend the "Timber-Framing from scratch" course held at The Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in September 2014 where students learned and practiced the ancient craft of scribe rule carpentry.
The key to this craft is to follow the mantra of "Line, level & Plumb".
Graduated storey poles are employed to lay out the frame.
The timbers are levelled using a plumb bob level.
The timbers are joined using mortice and tenon joinery.
The tie beam is connected to the wall plate using a lap dovetail joint.
The timbers are piled and plumbed to ensure an accurate frame build.
The mysteries of double cutting with the aid of a 2 foot rule and level mark were demonstrated to students.
Accurate measuring and cutting of joints enables the long wall assembly to be raised and joined together perfectly.
The tie beam is dropped down into position to form the English Tying joint locking the long wall and cross frames together.
The assembled frame is now ready to be dismantled for the follow on courses of "scribing braces and wall studs" and "roof geometry".
The team pose proudly against the backdrop of their completed primary scribe rule timber-frame.
Ken Hume OWG
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Timber-Framing from Scratch