Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Oxfordshire Woodland Group are pleased to report that they supported one of their Fellows - Herbert Russell M.Sc. (sitting lower right) to attend a cruck frame cutting and raising event at Heartwood in Western Massachusetts, USA. Heartwood is owned and run by Michelle & Will Beemer (next left to Herbert) with the cruck course being led by Jack Sobon (standing bottom right) and Neil Godden (waving and sitting on collar right). Jack has probably built more cruck frames than any man alive today.

The Heartwood cruck differs somewhat from The OWG cruck frame in as much that a greater use of mortice and tenon joints is made compared with the olde English cruck tradition of using lap joinery for major cruck frame components.

24 people signed up to attend and participate in this event which demonstrates a growing interest in this vernacular building craft practice.

Persons in the UK wishing to learn more or try their hand at cruck building should get in touch with the OWG Trustees

Ken Hume