Oxfordshire Woodland Group

There are no complete surviving Saxon timber buildings however in places some timbers remain reused in later buildings. It is difficult to accurately determine just what a typical Saxon house would have looked like. Instead archaeological evidence has been examined and this has revealed excavation data confirming plan sizes and some likely construction details e.g. earth fast posts.

The closest contemporary image evidence of typical Saxon building features was incorporated into the Bayeux tapestry which was most probably made in England and so likely reflects some (high status ?) details.

The peg makers are hard at work on the shave horses making the final pegs needed to finish the frame. They are completely unaware about the apparation of a 7th century Saxon girl watching them intently making parts for her new home.

The Saxon Hall frame was raised up on Saturday 06th July 2019 with finishing off additions of secondary timbers (ridge, purlins, etc. The frame appears to be unbraced with the posts simply standing in an excavated trench. Backfill and infill panels will help to stiffen the frame.

On completion of the Saxon Hall timber-frame raising - a whetting bush was raised and fixed to the top of the frame to pay homage to nature for supplying her bounty for the benefit mankind. A eulogic explanation of this ancient custom and practice was provided by Henry Russell.

The log cleaving team split down large logs into "cake slice" sections that are to be further hewn flat to form door planks.

The Saxon Hall doorway has a carved head and protruding dragon beam.

After a few very wet days the combed wheat read thatched roof and wattle & daub wall panels are now complete.

The riven plank door and carved door head are special features that complement this replica Saxon Hall.

After a very wet week The Wessex Saxon Hall could at last be seen without scaffold. Barn owls have already moved in with evidence for same confirmed by the presence of dead mice and regurgitated pellets.

The dark dank interior of the newly constructed replica Saxon Hall can now be experienced.

The Saxons must have been hardy folks altogether not bothered by sharing their drafty, smokey domestic spaces with dogs, cats, mice and cold drafts.