A Registered Charity 1175475 reconstructing the Sutton Hoo Ship
From ‘Tree to Sea’ workshop – April 2019
This two day skills workshop looked at the tools and techniques used by Saxon woodworkers as well as how to identify which wood would be best for each part of the ship.
This video shows the hard work required to change an length of oak into a usable plank. This one piece of wood was worked on by several men over the two days but was only partly finished at the end of it.
The selection of photographs below show the different aspects of the two days. One lesson learned is that turning a tree into a plank is a slow and back breaking process but interesetly no one wanted to down tools so it is clearly a dormant skill that we are happy to bring back to life.
Oak log being line chalked to guide where to work
Chalk lining the oak to ensure you are working towards a straight plank
Marking up any knots in the wood which need to be cut out first
Once the knots are marked and cut out, work begins on hewing the plank
Pete Clay, adding a lending hand to the process
Damian finessing the straight edge before moving on
Making double treenails out of willow
Preparing the wood for shaping
Traditional tools
Looking at documentation of previous projects, drawings of ancient tools, different ways to make rivets and much more
Demonstration of clinker planking and many other ancient and interesting artefacts
Damian answering many many questions about the art of ancient ship building
