Thursday 22 March 2012,  9.30am - 5pm

The course

What lessons can we learn from the past about successful timber frame design? This day school looks at tried and tested solutions from both a designer's and practitioner's viewpoint, illustrating why certain arrangements work and why others are more challenging. Perfect for all those want to build, design or understand more about how we design and build timber frames.

Participants will:

  • Study how the dating features of form, function and design of timber framed buildings have evolved, with reference to the historical socio-economic changes and regional variations.
  • Understand the constraints imposed on the design from both a stylistic and technical viewpoint.
  • View a selection of the Museum's buildings to further illustrate this chronology of consumer demand and material availability.

 The tutors

Jim Blackburn is the founder and managing director of the Timber Frame Company and has been professionally involved in heavy structural timber framing for 15 years, both designing and managing the production of frames in oak, larch and Douglas fir. He is involved in the conservation of historic timber structures and the design and construction of modern timber and hybrid frames.

Joe Thompson of Sussex Oak & Iron is carpenter in residence at the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum. He teaches a range of historic carpentry courses at the Museum. He worked in modern carpentry until the hurricane of October 1987. The sight of so many destroyed oak trees committed him to ensuring that such valuable material was put to good use, and from there sprang his interest in historic building conservation. He has developed a keen analytical eye and a scholar’s passion for following and interpreting the evidence along with a natural skill in teaching.

Participant information

No special clothing equipment is required but please wear sturdy footwear and bring warm outdoor clothing.

Fee

£99 per person, to include tuition, teas & coffees and a light lunch.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here.  Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.

Make a Booking Request

 
This is an initial booking request form, and does not guarantee a place on the course. The Adult Learning Team will check the availability of the course, and reply to you as soon as possible - usually within one working day.