May 2-4 - Lots happened - the sunken hut is finished, complete with a turf ridge; 'Weena' allowed some of the public to view her brood of five chicks; our new cob bread oven was fired up but proved to still need further drying out before we will be able to fully bake loaves in it; charcoal was created; timber was harvested the A-S way - axes not chainsaws; greenwood working skills were learnt by four German scouts who spent a day with us; Nick spent considerable time taking pictures that will hopefully make their way onto this site; costumes were sewn and several were modelled during the three days we were open; Boris the Boar's hide was hung as a 'door' in the sunken hut; a high-rise chicken hut (away from prowling badgers) was almost completed and lots of cooking took place.
We were visited by hundreds of Escot Park visitors over this Bank Holiday weekend and while many were from far flung places, some even over from Europe and we hope that we may see some attending as volunteers in the future. Our displays of artifacts grows each month and knowledgeable visitors add to our sources of information - Roger Bourgein kindly let us know of a new publication on wooden bowls and particularly the technique of using a pole-lathe to make them.
March and April saw us concentrating on pottery - Skip kindly attended both sessions and guided us through the processes of digging, preparing and forming clay in March and a spectacularly successful firing in April. Skip specialises in ancient techniques of making and firing pottery. An enclosed bonfire firing technique was used, resulting in a considerable number of small items making it through the process in one piece. Further work was also undertaken on the sunken hut, the bower for the spring/trough and costumes.
An Anglo-Saxon village is under construction here at Escot Park. Over the coming years a living history site will enable individuals and groups to investigate and experience the day-to-day life of our ancestors. A particular emphasis will be placed on comparing the sustainability of ancient vs. modern lifestyles.
Coming Events
Volunteer Days are during the first full weekend of most months (both Saturday and Sunday are in the new month) here at Escot Education, starting at 10am. If you would like to join us please let me know - 07814036634.
Family Activity Days - on each Sunday of our volunteer weekends we are offering the public the opportunity to 'have a go' at some of our craft activities. Grinding corn and then making bread in the earth oven was a very popular activity over the winter, as well as Matt's forging sessions with copper pendants as the final product. Richard demonstrated his considerable wood carving skills. Craft products are available for sale on these days.
School Activity Days - we can offer Anglo-Saxon experience days as well as the Forest School, Environmental Art and Science and Fun Days. Half, Full day or overnight camps are possible with the sessions tailored to your own individual needs and preferences. See the appropriate link on the Escot Education home page (link on the left of this page) or email or telephone Alan for further information.
Family Activity Days - on each Sunday of our volunteer weekends we are offering the public the opportunity to 'have a go' at some of our craft activities. Grinding corn and then making bread in the earth oven was a very popular activity over the winter, as well as Matt's forging sessions with copper pendants as the final product. Richard demonstrated his considerable wood carving skills. Craft products are available for sale on these days.
School Activity Days - we can offer Anglo-Saxon experience days as well as the Forest School, Environmental Art and Science and Fun Days. Half, Full day or overnight camps are possible with the sessions tailored to your own individual needs and preferences. See the appropriate link on the Escot Education home page (link on the left of this page) or email or telephone Alan for further information.
There's lots more to do and not just heavy work
We have already planted a boundary hedge and fruit bushes, completed a splendid thatched sunken hut, workshop, chicken coop, small bread oven and a bodger's bothy; raised a gateway arch and shelter for the spring; created costumes and researched building techniques; woven sections of wattle fencing and investigated wild foodstuffs of the period.
There is still plenty to do including:
There is still plenty to do including:
- daubing the new roundhouse
- milling flour for our open days and then baking bread
- making domestic and workshop tools and equipment
- blacksmithing
- thatching
- make charcoal for the forge
- splitting logs to feed the fires
- maintaining the herbs and planting a dye plant garden
- making and applying cob daub to more walls and structures
- spinning, weaving and dying wool and other yarns such as nettle
- sewing more costumes for living history days and school visits
- creating a photo album and preparing information packs and display boards
- chasing funding for materials and training expenses.
Why not visit us on the next Volunteer Weekend and see what we get up to? Ring Alan Bruford on 07814-036634 or email at abruford@hotmail.co.uk for dates and details.
- milling flour for our open days and then baking bread
- making domestic and workshop tools and equipment
- blacksmithing
- thatching
- make charcoal for the forge
- splitting logs to feed the fires
- maintaining the herbs and planting a dye plant garden
- making and applying cob daub to more walls and structures
- spinning, weaving and dying wool and other yarns such as nettle
- sewing more costumes for living history days and school visits
- creating a photo album and preparing information packs and display boards
- chasing funding for materials and training expenses.
Why not visit us on the next Volunteer Weekend and see what we get up to? Ring Alan Bruford on 07814-036634 or email at abruford@hotmail.co.uk for dates and details.
How we began...Anglo-Saxon Wood Wrighting Workshop- Nov 2007
We had a great weekend with Damian Goodburn from the Museum of London in November 2007 which kick-started the Edcott site. Discussions on appropriate building styles and techniques led on to designing and the first tentative steps in building our first Anglo-Saxon family dwelling, axes being wielded to great effect.
These skills have now resulted in our thatched sunken hut, complete with internal fire. A new cob bread oven was finished during our May 2008 weekend.
Further workshops have been run on a variety of topics - ring to let us know if you want to be involved.
These skills have now resulted in our thatched sunken hut, complete with internal fire. A new cob bread oven was finished during our May 2008 weekend.
Further workshops have been run on a variety of topics - ring to let us know if you want to be involved.