Oak Beams, Wattle & Daub

Oak Beams, Wattle & Daub

Here in my house, which we stumbled on way back in June 1987, as we sought to move from Ormskirk area, I do wonder at the building of it -- so many centuries ago.

The smaller lounge is full of wattle and daub walls , in an oak framework. Apparently , given the type of daub used, the walls are dated as far back as 1350/1395. In the reign of King Edward III /Richard 11. Just after the end of the great plague that swept the world.

One type of daub used was wattle ,held together with just mud, and the other adding cow muck and straw. And here we are in 2023 and the panels still looking pristine.

Add to this, the use of massive oak beams and it makes for a very historic house. The original dwelling was just the two rooms we believe . A working farm through all the centuries , with water taken from three wells in the land . One still working!

And see the massive oak beam in my photo . And just imagine the size of the tree from which the beams were cut. Using very basic hand saws . And wooden pegs to hold them together. Apparently long ago ,there were many oak trees hereabouts, with large numbers of them felled in the 16th century for ships and galleons for the royal fleets .

Later additions were made over the years of course, with Victorian tiled floors added. Mains water arrived to the house as late as 1959. And local residents tell me of the time they worked here in the farm , milking the cows by hand and using a wooden yoke to carry the pails of milk to the cheese making sheds.

A fascinating house. A happy house. And one I truly love living in -- and will do so for many years to come- I hope.

Ralph Warburton