Week 8 and we are busy thatching, wattling and coppicing as well as talking to lots of lovely visitors about the build as part of our February half term activities. We were also joined by some of the team from Wessex Archaeology for a day helping us with our wattle wall, affectionately named the ‘Wessex wall’!
Here our archaeologist Claire shares a bit more about our progress this week…

Yesterday we were joined by Phil, Holly, Finn, Karen, Jenny, Robyn and Emma from Wessex Archaeology. It was great to have people from a wide number of departments, particularly office staff who don’t normally get to feel the wind and rain in their face during daylight hours!  

Because I didn’t have the wherewithal to take a group photo, I have substituted it with a scenic shot of a ‘typical’ archaeologist (according to Playmobil anyway). Actually I thought they got it pretty spot on: 

Dishevelled and unwashed, with clothes that could stand up on their own: Check! 

Hasn’t bothered to shave for a few days: Check! 

Hangover from hell: Check! 

Clearly modelled on a number of digs I have had the pleasure to be on but of course nothing like the professionals at Wessex. Out respectable, clean, sober and enthusiastic visitors were given a short introductory tour of the farm, followed by an opportunity to inspect the house under construction. In addition to trying out some thatching, our helpers are joining us to help construct one of the end walls of our house. 

At the wider end, we have chosen to build with wattle and daub. Our Wessex team divided into two groups. The first focused on stripping all the side shoots from hazel which we had cut down in our own little coppice here on site. This hazel will form the long rods which we wattle with. This was an exciting opportunity to be let loose with billhooks, and everyone enjoyed using hand tools, particularly Emma who normally wields a pen in the office. She proudly showed me the blister she had gained from all her efforts! 

The second team worked on preparing the upright ‘staves’ around which we will weave our wattle wall. There was some good humoured confusion and discussion about exactly how to get started with the wattle – it’s a bit of a challenge when it’s all being done under the eaves of a building as we are here. But, that is the nature of experimental building – testing out ideas and then adapting them as you go along. Hopefully by the time the second group of Wessex volunteers join us next Tuesday, we will be well on our way with the wattling. Probably best not tell the last group that all that will be left to do when they get here in a couple of weeks is the daubing (that’s sticking cow poo on the walls to you and me……)