Rebuilding Poplar Cottage

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Infilling the frame

The outside wall of the smoke bay is infilled with sandstone from the original building.

Infill panels between the timbers are made by weaving thin cleft (split) lengths of oak between upright oak staves.

Daubing the Infill

These panels will be daubed on both sides.  Daub is made from earth (subsoil is best!), mixed with straw or grass.   Sometimes lime or cow dung is added.  For Poplar Cottage we are using straw and cow dung. 

In the picture below the lower panels have been filled with daub and are covered with hessian to slow down the drying process to prevent cracking.

The finished product

Thatching

The roof is being thatched by local thatcher, Chris Tomkins and his team, the material used is wheat straw and the technique is known as long straw thatching. Wheat straw can also be laid as wheat reed. The roofing felt is temporary.

View of the thatch from inside (left) and a close up of the eaves (right)

The smoke bay outlet

Completed thatch before trimming

Thatch trimmed!

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