Unlocking Hidden Heritage European Project

Ireland Action -Roundhouse Reconstruction- 31st March to 12th April 2008

Report by UK participant Helen Elvin

The setting for this construction action was the lovely gardens of Brigit's Garden where there are all sorts of inspiring sculptures and features based on traditional themes with a contemporary interpretation.

The initial idea had been to build a Crannog (these were round houses built on islands, natural or manmade in the lakes) but for many reasons, mainly practical as well as wanting to get the best use of the building, this changed to a dry site and therefore it became a plain round house. The first task was debarking all the timbers which had previously been sourced and brought to the site by Jerry, project leader and his team of foresters. These were oak for the uprights and ash for the roof. We used drawknives and billhooks for this task.


While half the team did this the others began digging metre deep post holes around the circle marked out for the walls, this was going well until a huge stone was unearthed and so began the challenge to find a way to remove it! This was partially achieved by the end of the next day, enough to fit in the final oak timbers. We then added intermediate timbers; thinner oak uprights by means of pointed ends and use of a post basher!


With the uprights in place we could then start work on the hazel wattle weaving. I was assigned the job of splitting the hazel and training up other members of the team in this skill! We placed a layer of stones round the base of the circle to help keep the wattle off the damp ground. Then we wove the hazel in a continuous weave around the walls, leaving a doorway of course! The first 30cm was hazel in the round, then a similar layer of split hazel , half with the split side facing out then half facing in for good visual effect and finally another layer in the round.

Walls complete. ( should I mention a discrete line of wire at the top to reinforce the uprights ?)A well earned day off saw us all travelling to Mayo to see a reforestation project and visit the National Museum of Ireland which was fascinating and helped our understanding of life in rural Ireland in the past.


And so to the roof Rafters; these were the 3m long ash poles. We lashed 3 together and then hoisted them into place; they were notched and seated on the main uprights, with a nail for added security! Then the rest of the poles were added in and lashed in place, notched and secured. A long job which needed much team work!


When all was in place the lathes made from split ash were then cut to length, fitted and nailed between the rafters at regular intervals (about 20cm) all round the roof. We had extra help for this from a small group of probationers who worked alongside. The bottom row of lathes were left in the round to give the thatch an extra kick to help with rain runoff.


The contemporary addition of a window frame was somewhat frowned upon but it will make the space much more useable for groups e.g. school story telling etc. It will have a simple glass fitted.


Next day a visit to Cragganowen to see another Crannog reconstruction and castle and ringfort, they also have the reconstruction of Brendan's boat there. Another interesting day out. Finally we were asked to add seating inside. This ended up being a continuous ring seat about 2/3 of the way round made of oak left over. Uprights into the ground, stretchers across the top and then split oak short logs nailed in place round the seat. It was a bit rougher than I would have liked but it should stop people nodding off in meditations or story times!


It was a busy fortnight where I was nominated leader every evening to find the next restaurant for the groups evening meal! We sampled almost every nationality of cuisine!


It was very interesting meeting all these people from different countries all working on different projects to raise the awareness of local heritage and share the skills and knowledge. I do wonder why more people from the host country are not involved in the projects as it is their heritage! I will hopefully be using some skills learnt on this trip to help with projects back home, but will we all? And does this matter? The Icelanders don't even have hazel or oak , but I'm really glad to have met these wonderful, enthusiastic people.