The case of the hanging window

  No skeletons, no sideburns, only one rat's nest, and a lot of spiders!

   Despite the expectation of several feet of debris, the “smooth, impervious, easy-to-clean” surface backed by a range of weather boarding, panelling (we're very posh) and the Devil's own concrete shuttering, revealed quite a clean wall.  Plus, the metal sheeting did it's job well and the frame has only sustained minimal damage.  Thank goodness they used all those nails.

One insistent rodent gnawed through this joint, but nothing was found in need of urgent repair and not an Acro in sight!  Excellent news.

For the next timber frame repair course, we hope to work on two sections which will complete the majority of the repairs to the Mill House (see pictures of previous work here) - so named because it housed the feed mill.

The first area is an internal support where the Mill House joins the extended nave of the barn.  Timber supports were removed to open up this stretch as a long cowshed.  Whilst this worked at the time, this very important beam is now a hanging feature beginning to bow under the load from the barn.

We could, of course, prop it up with the help of the bulk tanks found beneath it...

But monumental news!   Over thirty years since they were last used, the bulk tanks are leaving the building.  Or we hope they are.  The only way out is the way they were carried (?!??) in...

Which brings us to the second section we have to navigate round to do this.

. 

 

We're in the destruction phase and experiencing a sense of deja vu/Olympic weight training as we remove more concrete shuttering.  It's heavy, unbreakable and will always land on your foot.  But it is essential to be gentle so we preserve the hanging window above.  This is the only sash window in the whole barn and must have looked very smart when it was installed.

 

Hopefully no surprises there!  This week, one surprise was enough.  As the hokey-cokey of cow/grass management continued (you put your cows out, bring them back in...etc), yesterday, Dad discovered this little beauty frolicking in the Poor Field (according to the records, either two weeks late or one week early).

Let this be a lesson to you all;  surprises like these make year-round calving even more fun!

What lies beneath?

 

(Less Harrison Ford, more sheet metal.)

40 years ago, one man used 5 million nails to create the world's most hygienic parlour wall.  Now, the harmonious farmhands are set to remove it.  Nail by nail.

 

But what's that?  A ghost?  Am I losing my mind?  Or have we found the missing sideburns (and hair) of this man, last seen milking in this very dairy in 1982...

 Nope, the barn won't give up it's secrets easily.

It's just more tin.  And (more worryingly) water appearing from somewhere.

Just as we allowed ourselves a little hope....another layer, and overlapping, and joy! - another row of nails which are totally unreachable.

But the harmonious farmhands persevered and today, for the first time in 40-years, we have an exclusive sneak peek behind the metal facade...

    

 Looking good....?

  Join us for a week of discovery as we determine the condition of the timber frame.  Fancy a flutter?  Join our pool and guess the number of mummified rats behind the facade.  And join me in hoping there are no emergency Acro prop situations and more importantly, we don't find one of the child's shoes/clothing/similar that were put there for luck (thus must be put back) but really freak me out.

Forget London, this is going to be quite a week!

Westminster in a sash

A baby tractor and a big Hero bear hit Westminster for the launch of Great British Beef Week.

Followed by the lovely Ladies in Beef with Jim Paice MP.  As a child I struggled to master the sash as a Brownie and Girl Guide.  Apparently, I have not grown out of it (or learnt to look at the camera!).

Back home on the farm, the tractors may not be as shiny (or have cabs), but we're about to celebrate the start of GBBW with a lovely roast silverside joint.

Delicious!

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

Wiston before the "storm"...

 

LDF Mini Eggs

Easter is a very exciting time at Lower Dairy Farm.  The cows cannot help but get into the spirit of Easter, Humbug's joined in trying to eat the Easter decorations in the house and I seem to be rewarding myself with one Cadbury's Easter Egg for every word of my thesis I write.

But that's okay because Dolly our special (full-size, not bantam) Easter chick has started laying again, doing her bit to keep you supplied with eggs.

Well, trying at least.  Introducing LDF's very own miniature, yolk-free eggs...Mini Eggs if you will.

Happy Easter!

Roll up, roll up!

For the past week the valley has roared with tractors rushing to cultivate, drill and do whatever it takes to keep some moisture in the soil. To celebrate the end of drilling and another week of arrivals (not forgetting my updated list of future calvings in, get this, date order), it's time to feed those tired, hungry farmers!

Today, we're honouring our very own Easter chicks with a family favourite,  Cheesy Yorkshire.

Forget toad-in-the-hole, this is far superior!   And don't worry Marmite-haters, you cannot taste it (trust me), so unless you are allergic to or have a genuine phobia of Marmite, you are not allowed to leave it out.  No excuses!

Cheesy Yorkshire

6oz plain flour, 3 of Lower Dairy Farm's finest eggs*, ~1/4 - 1/2pt milk, 1 onion - diced, 2 tsps chopped sage (mixed herbs if easier), 1/2 tbsp Marmite, cubed cheese - Cheddar is best (British of course)

Dice the onion and brown in a little oil in a cake or roasting pan/ovenproof dish.  Make the batter as for a Yorkshire pudding - combine eggs, flour, milk and beat until the batter "whoops".  Beat in the herbs and Marmite.  Sprinkle cubes of cheddar over the onion and pour over the batter.

Cook at 220oC (G.M.7) until well-risen, cracked and golden.  Don't panic if it doesn't rise or falls flat, some (me) say the denser version is the best!

Delicious hot or cold (excellent picnic food) and particularly good for breakfast - if it lasts that long!

WARNING: Batter may have mesmeric qualities.  People have been found staring at batter - or cooking it with the power of their mind?

* Multiply quantities up or down with 1 egg for every 2oz flour.