Sarah Partridge, MA Education www.orchardbarn.org.uk

Timber Framing RepairsOrchard Barn

The Orchard Barn restoration project is run by OBee Community Interest Company

OBee CIC was established in 2007 to:-

• Increase participation in heritage activities• Provide opportunities for learning traditional skills through practical participation• Employ, and encourage the use of, natural resources and organic techniques through

education, communication of best practices and practical demonstration of uses

OBee achieve their objectives by undertaking practical repair programmes with paying trainees. We use locally sourced trees and traditional tools.

Progress is intentionally slow, but the environmental benefits and personal learning far outweigh modern day speed driven construction.

To date we have worked with over 1400 people in the restoration of Orchard Barn.

Below is our favourite wood store. Love trees? Learn how to build with them …….

Phased restoration1904 map of Orchard Barn

Phase 1 The ‘like for like repairs’ of C17 Timber Frame Suffolk barn (previously neglected) 2009-2013

Phase 2 The ‘rebuilding of’ C19 vernacular style cart lodges (remains) STARTING SPRING 2016

Phase 3 The ‘reconstruction of’ 1580 Suffolk Long House (ruins) TO BE CONFIRMED

Orchard Barn, Ringshall, Suffolk in 2007 – it’s 1940 tin roof saved the 17th century timber frame from the worst of the weather.

Note the ‘structural ivy’ far right! This photo was taken before 22 students on timber frame repairs

courses in 2009 repaired the frame, and 22 more students constructed a new roof frame in 2010.

PHASE 1

Orchard Barn comprises of 4 bays. Two thirds of the original timber frame were sound, however there were 4 sections of timber frame that needed repair. Three faced west and bore the brunt of the worst of the weather. The fourth bay faced south and had been ‘modified’ over the years. This slide also shows the repaired frame partly clad with oak weatherboard milled from small dimension oak trees

sourced from woodland in the adjacent parish of Willisham.

OBee bought these trees by the ‘Hoppus Foot’ from Suffolk Wildlife Trust. They had grown in Bradfield Woods, just 8.3 miles from Orchard Barn on the outskirts of Battisford. The

logs on the left are oak. We had them milled to provide replacement sole plates and studs. The big log on the right is an ash. That was planked up and was made into barn doors

4 years later (that’s another slide show).

Andy Davison from Pakenham used his dads Lucas Mill to

convert the log into building material. The mill is

transported in the back of a pick up truck and is assembled

over the log.

Beautiful fresh green oak milled where it grew.

Used less than 10 miles down the road.

Low carbon miles.

Locking carbon back into the building.

Offcuts make great benches and sides of raised beds. We raked up the sawdust and took that

back to Orchard Barn for use in the compost toilets.

Professional tuition on Timber Framing /Repair

courses from Rick Lewis of Traditional Oak Carpentry

Rick works out what size timber he can get from this

log.

Under Rick’s expert eye, David learns how to hand convert log into the wall plate that now graces the door entrance. Makes good use of non standard

logs. Hewing can accommodate curves.

Replacement sole plate. Note scarf joint to join two lengths

of sole plate and mortises ready to receive tenons. Also

note replacement foot on original post (centre of photo).

Sole plate under construction.

Summer has fun learning how to use traditional

carpentry tools.

Use of auger to

start mortise hole.

Hand cut tenons.

Original jowl posts given new lease of life with new feet.

Note original Woolpit White brick threshing floor. Test fitting tenon into

mortise.

Brace repair. Pegged into jowl post using home made pegs. Note the carpenters marks.

Below use of draw knife to shape oak peg on shave horse.

Trainees from all walks of life learn how work together to retain as much of the

historic fabric of the building as possible. We have taught engineers, conservation

officers, builders, home-owners, surveyors and architects.

2007 - 2013

Timber Framing / Repairs, Greenwood Roofs and Restoration Skills courses www.orchardbarn.org.uk 01473-658193 / 07766-054042

Traditional Building Skills Courses at Orchard Barn‘Learning from the past how to build a greener future’