Re-building a medieval oak frame after a house fire

Traditional techniques and materials for a thatched cottage in Oxfordshire

Manifest were contacted as specialist oak framers following a devastating house fire to the existing property, a medieval thatched cottage.  Happily no-one was injured in the blaze, but the existing timber frame was almost entirely destroyed.  The owners had loved their historic house so dearly, with all of its quirky and twisted timbers, and layer upon layer of history, and sought out craftspeople who could work in the medieval manner – cutting timbers by hand, working with knotty and twisted oak to re-create, as far as possible, their original cottage.

Although much of the house had been destroyed, a full measured survey (drawings and photographs) which had been carried out at purchase, together with the physical remains (wall footprints, chimney stack), allowed us to re-construct the house with great confidence.  Working closely to existing outlines, the construction presented interesting challenges in its irregular plan shapes, and the desire to retain as many of the building’s evidence of historic development as possible.  Inevitably, this was a new oak frame, and we made no attempt to hide this, simply working within the old craft traditions and context to provide a new house in the spirit of the old.  Its next 600-year history starts now!

Manifest worked closely with the appointed architect and structural engineer to provide full detailed designs for the oak frame itself, and framed and assembled all elements on site.  We were pleased to work under main contractor Oakley Wood Construction, together with invaluable assistance from Face North Forestry and others at the Sylva Foundation in Oxfordshire.