Timber Framers Guild Forums Training Classes and Workshops Cruck Workshop

Jack Sobon will be leading our fourth Cruck Framing workshop from August 1-5 at Heartwood (www.heartwoodschool.com) in western Massachusetts. I know this is an early notice but this course will fill up fast. At last count I believe we have around 20 cruck frames here in Berkshire County, making it the highest concentration outside of the Welsh borderlands!

Hi Will,

I think that you just made a fairly significant point above and I wonder if you can provide a list of these crucks including location, builder, year of build, number of bays, use, etc.

From a building research point of view it is usually a matter of some academic speculation as to why and how a particular building style arose in the landscape and here we should be able to provide at least one (or more ?) definitive reason behind this apparent Bershire phenomenon. This would make for a good article.

On a minor point I think that you will find that the highest cruck concentration acolade probably belongs to Sheffield, Derbyshire, England (inc. imediate surroundings).

Regards

Ken Hume

Don't hold me to it; but it's probably because Will Beemer and the Heartwood school cruck classes made them.....that and Jack Sobon making them...

Hi Jim,

We only have about 100 or so crucks here in Hampshire, England with most of these being built between 1390 - 1425. I sometimes wonder whether or not these cruck frames might also have been built by a similar small group of builders who were experienced in this technique.

Regards

Ken Hume

Hi Ken,

Interesting that crucks were built in Hampshire for basically the working life of a man, maybe two generations if the individuals were short lived. It is also interesting when they were built, after the plague epidemic of the mid 14th century. I wonder if cruck construction was transferred to the area when a craftsman moved there from an area where crucks were more prevalent.

BTW, there is a cruck raising taking place in Ontario this week.

Reid Harding

Hi Reid,

The earliest cruck that I have been inside (this winter) is less than 20 miles north of me in guess where - [Olde] Berkshire. This has now been dendro dated to 1299 and is hence a very early example with cruck blades of staggering size and the best thing is that folks still live in it - 712 years of family service !!!

Good luck with the Ontario raising. Some digi pics would be nice.

Regards

Ken Hume

As Jim points out, the crucks in Berkshire County (US) are due to the influence of Jack Sobon, who lives about 30 minutes from Heartwood and works with us occasionally, and it has trickled down to other timber framers in the area. I'll talk to Jack about doing an inventory for the area.
Oh, and we have crooked trees, for some reason. Geomagnetic flux? No, just a hilly region where Eastern White Pines grow from hillsides with the right curve and girth to meet the requirements of a well-scaled cruck.
Thanks for the clarification on cruck distribution in England, Ken. I have B. Bunker's book "Cruck Buildings" that covers Derbyshire and Yorkshire but have only directly seen some over by Wales.
Would love to get Alcock's book but can't find it.
The cruck this summer will be 16'x20', 2-bays,(3 crucks) and used as studio and art workshop. None of the crucks I know of are used as barns or utility build.ings; they are lived or worked in and all built since 1975

Hi Will,

I just sent you a pdf copy of the Cruck Catalogue to keep you going till you can lay your hands on a paper copy.

The book by Betty Bunker referenced above features typical "rude" crucks that could once be found in and around Sheffield, Derbyshire.

Are you planning to put "eyes" in your cruck ?

Regards

Ken Hume

Ken,
I'm not familiar with the "eyes" term. Please explain. Windows?

Hi Will,

Please refer to Betty Bunker's Cruck book - Chapter II - building number 16 - Little Common Cruck House then if you dare turn the page and read page number 24.

Are we being watched !!!

There is a famous house in border country known locally as "The Eyes of Ruthin"

Regards

Ken Hume