The Celtic Village
May 2010
Building a roundhouse the work continues
[image: Giving a hand with the purling]
Giving a hand with the purling
[image: ]
Placing the purling above the doorway
[image: ]
Natural fibre cordage covered in tar and used to tie the posts
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Dafydd, Tim and Andy fixing higher purlings
We've been working on the purling which will hold the thatch. I'm really interested in how we build the roof. Dafydd, Tim and Andy have even allowed me to help out! I'll be in the Village between Monday and Thursday next week. If you are around call in.
Building a roudhouse - the roof
[image: Placing the rafters]
Placing the rafters
[image: Placing the rafters]
Rafters on the floor ready to be placed
[image: A look at the rafters from below ]
A look at the rafters from below
[image: All the rafters almost in place]
All the rafters almost in place
The house is taking shape now it's all quite exciting. You can see how it will eventually look when Dafydd and the team have finished their work.
Dafydd's had plenty to think about though. The first six rafters went up easily but then he had to decide where to place the ring-beam - inside or outside the rafters? As you can see from the pictures he place them outside the rafters. You can find out why in Dafydd's diary.
Once the ring beam was placed the next set of rafters went up quickly. They were notched, allowing them to hook onto the ring-beam and then lashed with tarred string. A second ring-beam was then placed lower down. Before long we will be thatching.
Link to Dafydd's diary http://www.theroundhouse.org/dafsdiary.htm
Building a roundhouse - continued
[image: Roof plan]
Roof plan
[image: Starting on the rafters]
Dafydd Wiliam and the team discussing the position of the rafters
[image: We've used scaffolding to assist us here. I wonder how they did this in the Iron Age?]
We've used scaffolding to assist us here. I wonder how they did this in the Iron Age?
[image: The main raffter poles tied at the apex]
The main rafter poles tied at the apex
We started on the rafters yesterday. There will be 36 ash rafters in all. We will be creating ring beams and using a load of hazel rods for the purlins and sways. Come over to see the work develop this week.
Thanks to everyone who called in over the bank holiday weekend - it was great fun!