Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Examining old timber-framed building components can provide an insight into previous woodland management and timber conversion techniques.

An old elbowed cruck has been converted by hewing to produce a boxed heart timber.

A large barn has incorporated cruck blades from an older and smaller building reusing these as large foot braces. The mantle (tie) beam lap joints can clearly be seen.

Neither of the above cruck blades are made from large trees and so could have been easily felled, converted and moved by just a few woodsmen.

Ken Hume OWG