Introduction to Timber Frame Repairs Course

An Introduction to Timber Frame Repairs9th - 11th May

This course will be of interest to those who wish to work on historic timber-framed buildings.

Run by Essex County Council's Historic Buildings & Conservation Team, it is designed for amateur and professional carpenter/joiners alike who want to broaden their knowledge and interest in timber frames.

The majority of the course will be practical, consisting of work to a historic timber-framed barn.

Course content • Diagnosis of problems • Analysis of repairs • Choice of timber • Timber frame joints, scarfs and splices, mortice & tenons • Foundations and plinths

Course Tutor: Richard Green, Richard Green Joinery Richard runs his own joinery business working mainly in north Essex where he has built up an excellent reputation for his high quality work on the historic buildings in the area. His work covers fine joinery to working with green oak on historic timber-frame repairs.

Cost: £255 - free places available (see below)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE There are a number of free places fully funded by the City & Country Group Bursary Scheme. For details and application criteria contact: traditional.buildingskills@essex.gov.uk

To book a place contact :

Katie Seabright

E-mail: traditional.buildingskills@essex.gov.uk

Tel: 01245 437672

Historic Buildings & Conservation,

Essex County Council, County Hall,

Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1QH.

Operation Barn

From this...

to the barn course 40 years later...

to this week...

Boarding completed before the monster hail began.

It's official, a weather-proof, dove-proof side to the Mill House!

Humbug "Spirit Level" Taylor lending a hand

Props away!

Back on the farm and props (doors and calves) away!

First up, the mill house is supporting itself without the magical Acro props!

[Don't cry Stuart]

 AND...we've got a door!!!

A proper dairy door with a frame AND a window, on hinges and everything!   (I nearly cried when I saw the door).  And all of this progress is thanks to the incredible work of Richard Green - hiding in the top photo.  The barn looks AWESOME!

What's more, whilst I spent last week on self-imposed PhD lockdown (with a little cow shampooing thrown in for good measure), Dad's even installed new hi-tech lighting in the Pole Barn.

The gift of sight for night-time calvings?  Priceless (once you've climbed over, then up a gate and found the light switch in the dark).

My jungle gym skills are yet to be tested, however, I am proud to announce No. 100's first calf. Easy calving, seriously milky udder, slightly dim and she's my favourite...perfect for an Ayrshire cross!  She is the Chosen One.

Barn Enemy #1

It's survived woodworm, war, storms and scarily near misses with tractors, but can the barn survive...Humbug?

Who needs a chew toy when you've got a barn to sharpen your teeth on?

 Too right you should hide!

Bricklayers Anonymous

   Yesterday, whilst wearing my regulation "it's November, it should be cold" outfit (three fleeces and a waterproof) I was wolf-whistled at by a man towing a cattle trailer.  I was as surprised as you are, but this can only mean one thing...bring on the mince pies!

   And no Verity, you cannot use shop bought pastry.  Save yourself some money and go crazy with some shortcrust.

Shortcrust pastry

8oz flour, pinch of salt, 2oz lard, 2oz marg, cold water to mix (approx 2tbsp), (1oz sugar for sweet pastry)

Mix flour and salt in basin, rub in fat.

Using a knife, to cut and stir, mix with cold water to form a stiff paste.

Turn dough on to a floured board/worktop and roll out.

- from the Be-Ro bible.

   Personally, I think lids are a waste of pastry (I am that cheap), so it's stars or dinosaurs, or whichever shape cutter/mould comes to hand - some still retaining the kryptonic strength of dried-on homemade play dough.  Or if you have that much time on your hands, you can create Edible Boggle (minus the shaking).  Way more rewarding than actual Boggle.

   In other news...progress on the barn restoration.  The brickwork is nearly completed thanks to Dad and Jack, our Master Bricklayer.

   Over the past two years, Mum and Dad have made incredible progress to ensure the barn remains standing for another few hundred years.  Through courses run by Essex Heritage and led by the excellent Richard Green of Green Restoration, we've been able to repair the rotten sole plate in three places and shore up the barn.  After the marathon effort of all the attendees on the last course, we've got a lot to do but it will be worth it!

We'll be adding more information and background to our website, but here is a quick photographic rundown to get you up to speed and show you our most recent progress.  And Richard, I'm not that good with Photoshop, the brickwork is real!

The race is on to get it shipshape before the weather turns...!