Oxfordshire Woodland Group

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has reconstructed a Saxon hall based on archeological evidence found in Berkshire

This hall is an earthfast building i.e. it does not have conventional foundations instead being held in position by the main posts that have charred ends upended into holes dug into the chalk and then backfilled around the posts.

The posts and other timbers are mainly hand hewn from Sweet Chestnut stock.

This building is in a woodland setting and consequentially it is unlikely that the thatch will be as long lived as those thatched roofs that have good exposure to sunlight that will help to quickly dry the thatch after a rain shower rather than remaining wet, turning mouldy with shady conditions encouraging the growth of moss.

Ken Hume OWG