Love trees? Learn how to build with them. Traditional Timber Framing by trainees using locally sourced trees

1. Sarah Partridge, MA Education
www.orchardbarn.org.uk
Timber Framing Repairs
Orchard Barn

2. 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

3. 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 …….

4. Phased restoration
1904 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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).

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Professional tuition on
Timber Framing /Repair
courses from Rick Lewis of
Traditional Oak Carpentry

12. Rick works out what size
timber he can get from this
log.

13. 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.

14. 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).

15. Sole plate under construction.

16. Summer has
fun learning
how to use
traditional
carpentry tools.

17. Use of
auger to
start
mortise
hole.
Hand cut tenons.

18. Original jowl posts given new
lease of life with new feet.
Note original Woolpit White
brick threshing floor.Test fitting tenon into
mortise.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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’