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12th century timber framing #27592 11/09/11 09:17 PM
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Jo5h Offline OP
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Hey,

I am looking for any information i can get on 12th century timber framing. I'm currently in the middle of a university project where i have to design a medieval smithy. Any info on construction methods, materials used etc would be great!

ta very much:)

Re: 12th century timber framing #27593 11/09/11 09:52 PM
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D L Bahler Offline
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http://www.amazon.com/English-Historic-Carpentry-Cecil-Hewett/dp/0941936414

that book should have exactly what you are looking for. But this is for England specifically. The techniques will vary in different regions if you care to be so specific.


Was de eine ilüchtet isch für angeri villech nid so klar.
http://riegelbau.wordpress.com/
Re: 12th century timber framing #27604 11/10/11 06:20 PM
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Thanks a lot, this book looks like it would be really helpful smile

Re: 12th century timber framing #27610 11/11/11 03:57 PM
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Hi Josh,

This is quite a challenging question and DLB has provided you with a good book reference to act as a starting point.

As I understand from your PM, the smithy (forge) is to be built in Normandy, France as part of a film set and so I can make a couple of comments.

The first is that this part of France as we know it today was under English rule in the 12th century and so its quite possible that common craft practices were employed in both England and Normandy.

The second relates to research work that I did myself earlier this year to come up with a credible design for a Royal aisled hall circa 1180 i.e. as built in under the rule of King John. I discovered, less than a hundred or so buildings or fragments thereof of extant timber framed buildings remain today and most of these tend to be very high status buildings so examples of these might not necessarily provide you with a good example for the design of a more humble utility building like a forge. The key design feature for a forge would probably be to provide good ventilation, e.g. an open sided building, and certainly not thatched for obvious reasons.

If you choose to design / build a timber framed structure then this would most probably be built with lap joinery.

Hewett's book covers buildings that were mainly constructed in East Anglia & Essex and there are some similarities between these buildings and those to be found in Normandy (jettying & close studding). It might make sense to base your design on a medieval detached kitchen / brew house since these might possibly have had some design features in common with a forge i.e. they both have to deal with lots of heat & smoke.

Regards

Ken Hume


Looking back to see the way ahead !
Re: 12th century timber framing #27611 11/11/11 06:01 PM
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D L Bahler Offline
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One thing, however,
The forge cannot be totally open. One aspect of a traditional forge is that it was kept very dark. This makes it easier to read the metal to know its heat. So the forge was fully enclosed, with small shuttered windows and a small door. Any ventilation was done most likely through a hole in the roof. I don't know how chimney technology had progressed by the twelfth century, but I don't imagine your typical forge would have had much beyond this.

And this fits with the typical description, even up into fairly modern times forges were dark, smoky, dirty places.

DLB


Was de eine ilüchtet isch für angeri villech nid so klar.
http://riegelbau.wordpress.com/
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: D L Bahler] #27613 11/12/11 01:56 PM
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Hi DLB,

Good point, especially when tempering metal but at odds with many forges that I have seen and even worked in from time to time. Our local forge has windows all along the north facing wall and none on the south and is fitted with a 3ft 4" wide door.

Regards

Ken Hume


Looking back to see the way ahead !
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Ken Hume] #27619 11/15/11 08:28 AM
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Cecile en Don Wa Offline
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Hello,

Anyone familiar with this extravagance? Anyway, it's 13th not 12th century and who can say how precise the reproduction is - I see an awfully modern looking anvil there- but among all the other pertinent and interesting stuff there is a blacksmith's forge to be found.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Cecile en Don Wa] #27627 11/16/11 04:33 AM
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I think I've seen those pictures before. Is that the castle that is being built in france using tools and techinques similar to the period?


Leslie Ball
NaturallyFramed.ca
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Gumphri] #27632 11/16/11 11:33 AM
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Hello Leslie,

Yes it is in France. I think they are something like 14 years into a 20 or 30 year project. If you care to do a little manipulating of the http: address and then spend the time clicking around there you will come up with some versions translated into English that might make it all a bit more accessible. I think there is stuff on working with lime and clay mortars and plasters that might be of interest to you.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Cecile en Don Wa] #27648 11/19/11 10:26 AM
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I remember seeing that project a few years back when I was in the UK. I was hoping to make it there but, never made it to France. But, I did have a good time in Grubbenvorst. I saw a windmill near there that was amazing.


Leslie Ball
NaturallyFramed.ca
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Gumphri] #27653 11/20/11 04:44 PM
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Thanks Don, I was not aware of the project you provided a link for. Here is an link in English with a two minute video about the experiment.

http://www.guedelon.fr/

Jim


The closer you look the more you see.
"Heavy timber framing is not a lost art" Fred Hodgson, 1909
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Jo5h] #27714 12/02/11 09:45 AM
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Hello,

Not quite sure how it came about because the medieval time frame is not really my thing, though tracing things back is interesting in relation to a certain sense of continuity and perceived knowledge, but anyhow I came across this illustrated record from the city of Nürnburg depicting some of its former citizens at work in their various trades. I thought the blacksmiths series might provide some pertinent information here. Blacksmith's shop
Of course you've also got the carpenter there and the woodsman 'n more for the looking up.

Greetings,

Don Wagstaff

Last edited by Cecile en Don Wa; 12/02/11 09:49 AM.
Re: 12th century timber framing [Re: Cecile en Don Wa] #27718 12/03/11 03:48 AM
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Dave Shepard Offline
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That is really fascinating. Thanks for the link.


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