Three medieval bridges were uncovered in Leicestershire. They were built in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Richard prepared two chapters for the subsequent report.
Tools and Joint Types
The toolmarks found on the excavated timber gives information about both the methods used to shape the timber and the characteristics of the tools used. The tools used are the same in all three bridges; however the woodworking techniques are different between the earliest bridge and the later bridges. The early bridge uses Anglo-Norman techniques, while the late bridge uses medieval techniques.
Hemington Bridge - a joint
Sources and Conversion of the Trees
The 11th and 13th century bridges provide most of the evidence. There is no difference in the source or conversion of the timber between bridges. The timber appears to come from both dense woodland and from hedgerow trees. The timber is not the best quality, but was chosen for it’s suitability for the job. The trees were felled with axes and both radial splitting and hewing were used.
Cooper, L., and Ripper, S., The Hemington Bridges. Published by English Heritage.
44 wooden coffins were uncovered from the magistrates court at Hull. Of these six were well enough preserved to gain an understanding of the structure of the coffin. All the coffins were 14th century and made from slow grown oak boards. The timber used in all but one coffin was imported straight grained Baltic timber which had been radially split into planks. The other coffin was English oak. The coffins were intricate, with bowed tops and curved sides and appear to have been ‘made to measure’.
Not yet Published
3. The Llanberis Boat
Richard prepared a museum display for The Electric Mountain Museum in Llanberis. This shows how an oak tree would have been converted to finished wooden planks, in the building of the 16th Century Llanberis boat.
Pictures of the Llanberis boat display
4. Dragon Hall
Dragon Hall in Norwich is a medieval merchants trading hall, built in 1430. Richard has done several pieces of work for Dragon Hall, including the production of a 1/6 scale model, shown below. The model can be taken apart and reassembled to allow an understanding of how the joints work.
