Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Medieval rafters were laid flat on top of purlin / plate & ridge (if present).

Where it was important to securely fix the rafter to same then a square peg was driven through a round hole drilled through the rafter and underlying purlin / ridge / wall plate. Sometimes not all of these 3 securing points were used with the priority order of peg application being purlin - wall plate - ridge.

The rafter hole was made with a 1" dia drill.

The peg was draw knived down to a nominal 1" x 1" square section which over time (5 centuries) has shrunk to 7/8" x 15/16". Where the peg was clasped in the rafter hole the peg shank has shrunk / been compressed to 7/8" x 7/8".

The driven end of the peg was left at its original cleaved section 1-3/8" x 1-1/4" which has shrunk down to 1-1/4" x 1-1/8".

Ken Hume OWG