|
|
|
Reconstruction of a late Iron Age/Roman Roundhouse The Poulton Project has been donated a full-size replica of a roundhouse typical of the late Iron Age / Roman period, courtesy of the Museum of Liverpool Life. The diameter of the roundhouse is approximately 6 metres. This roundhouse is now being reconstructed on site at Poulton, located midway between the reconstructed Bronze Age timber circle and the medieval chapel. The photographic diary below is regularly updated as construction progresses. The most recent pictures are at the top !
^ November 2009: Close-up of the top-knot.
^ November 2009: The dark side of the roundhouse
^ November 2009: Home sweet home?
^ November 2009: A general view with the "topknot" in
place.
^ November 2009: A view of the apex from the inside.
^ November 2009: Not many 'mod cons' but very
'green'. We have our first resident, an owl.
^ November 2009: Just need to tie off the top now.
Yes, that is water in the background!
^ October 2009: Beginning to get quite dark and cosy
inside.
^ October 2009: What it looks like from the inside.
Notice the walls being recoated.
^ October 2009: That hole in the top is getting
smaller and smaller.
^ October 2009: We are getting there.
^ September 2009: Well, it's taking time but we are
getting there. After a number of false starts and learning from our mistakes, we
are now making real progress to completion.
^ July 2009: We progress and are learning all the
time.
^ July 2009: Our apprentice thatchers learn their
trade.
^ Jun 2009: And slowly but steadily we make progress.
^ Jun 2009: The master thatcher makes it look oh so
easy.
^ Jun 2009: The master thatcher (centre) instructing
some volunteers.
^ Jun 2009: All is safely gathered in.
^ Jun 2009: The thatch arrives
^ Jun 2009: Outside wall surfaces complete, roof components complete. Waiting for the thatcher now on the 27th. Top of page
^ Jun 2009: The 'spiders web' from the inside
^ Jun 2009: Outside wall surfaces complete, roof components nearly complete. Soon time for the thatcher now on the 27th. Top of page
^ Jun 2009: Close up of Mike and Al fixing up the 'hoops'. Looks more like 'frigging in the rigging' to me. Top of page
^ Jun 2009: The walls are almost complete and we are working on the roof 'hoops' to support the thatch. Top of page
^ May 2009: This is the wattle in close up with the first (coarse) coat being applied from the inside. Top of page
^ May 2009: Our team of experienced mud mixers! As they are using straw, this is a coarse mix. Top of page
^ May 2009: If you throw enough mud, some of it is bound to stick! Top of page
^ May 2009: And after several more coats of fine mix, it looks like this, as smooth as a baby's bottom! Top of page
^ May 2009: Looking good ... nearly there Top of page
^ March 2009: The daub so far ... the basecoat applied Top of page
^ March 2009: Applying the daub to the wattle wall Top of page
^ March 2009: Mixing in the clay and soil Top of page
^ March 2009: Mixing the daub ... adding the straw Top of page
^ March 2009: The wattle walls ready for daub. Top of page
^ November 2007 Top of page ^ October 2007: The roof timbers are assembled and it really begins to look like a house! Top of page ^ September 2007: The framework has been erected and branches of hazel are being used to weave the wattle walls. Top of page
^ July 2007: Each posthole is filled with wood which is then burnt. Top of page
^ July 2007: The timbers are now removed, and the postholes are ritually cleansed by fire. The reconstructed timber circle can be seen in the background. Top of page
^ June 2007: Phew, they do fit ! Top of page
^ June 2007: The vertical posts and lintels are temporarily erected to check that everything fits together. Top of page
^ March 2007: The postholes are dug... Top of page
^ February 2007: On site at Poulton, a suitable area for re-erecting the roundhouse has been identified, which avoids disturbing any archaeology. The locations of the postholes are set out by a couple of old geezers. Top of page
^ November 2006: ...as well as the wattle and daub construction of the walls. The wattle is woven in and out of the 16 vertical posts, and coated in daub which is a mixture of earth with (usually) straw and dung. Top of page
^ November 2006: The roof structure can be clearly seen.... Top of page
^ November 2006: Dismantling of the roundhouse commences at the Museum of Liverpool Life. The steeply-pitched thatched roof also keeps the walls dry, which is important since they are largely constructed of mud ! Top of page |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
© 2000-2009 The Poulton Research Project |
