I've searched the internet and here but have so far had no luck in finding a textbook on Cruck Framing. I'm looking for something that discusses designs and construction techniques as opposed to historical surveys.

Does anyone here know of textbooks that cover these topics?

Hello,

That is a tough one, and perhaps someone here will have an example to offer that I don't?

I personally have never seen or read what I believe you are asking for? As you have learned there are a number of learned papers, and related text on Cruck Frames from an historical or general subject consideration.

As for a dedicated tome outlining "step by step" building instructions with drawings and design schematics, that does not exists outside private facilitation syllabus, as far as I know.


I have (floating around here someplace...??...ha, ha) notes on different examples, observations of the frames I have seen, and a project/workshop syllabus with drawings I have created. Yet again, this is aimed at professional facilitation of a class/workshop and not a public document.

On that topic, there are a number of workshops/classes that cover this subject, both here and in the U.K. The Heartwod School has offered one in the past workshops on this subject, and may again in the future. I believe Steve Chappell's Program at Fox Maple has offered one as well...I think?

Beyond that, hiring someone to design and support your project with technical guidance, and blueprints would/could be the only other effective way for a beginner to approach such a project?

Good Luck,

j

Heartwood is offering Cruck again this spring. I've taken it twice. Might take it again someday.

Cruck Buildings by B. Bunker is the only book I know of, but its a survey type thing.

Nat Alcock's "Crucks in England and Wales" or "Catalogue of Cruck Buildings" are good sources; again mostly a survey but it shows a myriad of cruck types with excellent drawings. Might take some hunting to find it. For layout technique, there's been a article or two in the UK Fellowship's "Mortice and Tenon" magazine, one good one by Henry Russell in Issue #6. I think you can buy back issues from the UKCF website, or a compendium of all the back issues.
If you know how to scribe then there's no special tricks to layout once you've matched the curve of the cruck to the apex type and the spurs and tie beams that support the plates and purlins. These arrangements are shown in Alcock and Russell.
Yes we are having another cruck course April 30-May 4 with Jack Sobon and Neil Godden. Details here Cruck Framing.

Thanks, Jay. I plan to attend the Heartwood class this spring; but, a good textbook in the meantime would be very helpful!

Hi Will, Thanks for the pointers. I have a pdf version of Alcock's, "Cruck construction: An introduction and Catalogue." Though mostly a survey, it does contain a few details on how crucks were historically built and raised.

Also, I do plan on attending the Heartwood class. I'm look forward to it eagerly.

Great! You'll get some good handouts on cruck layout in the class, drawn by Jack Sobon.

Hi,

All of the books mentioned are probably a good start point however as mentioned these tend to be about building survey and recording which is not entirely surprising since to discover how to build a cruck it's most probably essential to look back and see how crucks were built in centuries gone bye.

The most recent and by far the most comprehensive study made to date is by ALCOCK, N.W., MILES, D., 2013. The Medieval Peasant House in Midland England. Oxford : Oxbow Books. [ISBN 978-1-84217-506-4]. This book is not cheap but it does contain the most comprehensive set of cross sectional cruck drawings published to date. The build data for hundreds of crucks has been analysed and presented in various tabular forms that should help any designer or aspiring cruck builder to determine just how various less than perfect timbers can be joined together to form a traditional cruck frame. It also comes with a CDROM containing hundreds of recording reports not included in the book text.

I am building a 2 bay traditional cruck frame with a type "D" apex using full crucks. The design concept is based on surveys made of local vernacular buildings undertaken by Hume / Corbishley covering the late 1200's to mid 1400's time period. I confess that the design has evolved as building has proceeded due to having to overcome various issues that we discovered along the way and this is maybe one of the most important lessons in cruck building and might also tend to explain why there are so many design variants. The process to build a cruck frame can be followed on the Timber Framing section of The Oxfordshire Woodland Group Forum and also on The Group's Twitter pages.

If you require further advice then please contact trustees@oxfordshirewoodlandgroup.co.uk

Ken Hume

We have now completed the building of our cruck timber frame and have enclosed this with a cedar shake roof and Douglas Fir / Larch feather edged weather board siding.

We now need to establish the best way to go about fitting barn doors and window shutters to the barn.

You can see pics of the barn on Oxfordshire Woodland Group on Twitter

Ken Hume

Beautiful frame and building, Ken.