Archive Update: Thynghowe and the Forgotten Heritage of

Sherwood

Stuart Reddish

The Forest and its working CommunityAnd Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut tree; and PILLED white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. And he set the rods which he had PILLED before the flocks in the gutters in the watering troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. (Genesis 30:37-38)

Archive Records: Bark Peeling

In Europe, oak is a common source of Tanbark. Quercitannic acid is the chief constituent found in oak barks. The bark is taken from young branches and twigs in oak coppices and can be up to 4 mm thick; it is grayish brown on the outside and brownish red on the inner surface.

Archive Record of 'peeling' in Sherwood

Coopers and Barrel MakingTraditionally there were four divisions in the cooper's craft. The "dry" or "slack" cooper made containers that would be used to ship dry goods such as cereals, nails, tobacco, fruits and vegetables. The "dry-tight" cooper made casks designed to keep dry goods in and moisture out. Gunpowder and flour casks are examples of a "drytight" cooper's work. The "white cooper" made straight staved containers like washtubs, buckets and butter churns, that would hold water and other liquids.

Archive Records: Coopers

Charcoal and Charcoal MakersCharcoal has been made by various methods. The traditional method in England uses a clamp. This is essentially a pile of wooden logs (e.g. seasoned oak) leaning against a chimney (logs are placed in a circle). The chimney consists of 4 wooden stakes held up by some rope. The logs are completely covered with soil and straw allowing no air to enter.

Archive Records: Charcoal

Deer Fences and Palings

A medieval deer park was an enclosed area containing deer. It was bounded by a ditch and bank with a wooden park pale on top of the bank. The ditch was typically on the inside, thus allowing deer to enter the park but preventing them from leaving.

Archive Record: Deer Fences

Sawpits and Forestry

A saw pit or sawpit is a pit over which lumber is positioned to be sawed with a long two-handled saw by two men, one standing above the timber and the other below. It was used for producing sawn planks from tree trunks, which could then be cut down into boards, pales, posts, etc.

Archive Record: Sawpits

Prince Charles Visits a Sawpit?