Travel Theme/Where’s My Backpack: Framed

Framed: the gable end of a house in Braunston, Northamptonshire, UK

A unique conservation project where the profile of three buildings through history have been conserved for posterity. The oldest, the medieval house, shows the end Cruck or Crook Frame and timber joists, with oak frames dividing the interior into rooms. Wooden frames would be infilled willow hurdles, straw and dung, (wattle and daub)

Several crucks (curved timbers) would be equally spaced, connected with beams and joists, externally ‘in-filled’ with clay and straw or timber lap-boarding, a technique borrowed from boat building.

Whom ever took this unique step to conserve the Cruck frame and later brick outline and extension should be congratulated for his/her vision. The Cruck Frame was later replaced by the Box Frame.