Butser Ancient Farm

[helwen]

Butser Ancient Farm is an experimental archeology site in England. I'm currently looking at some of the buildings (if you click on Buildings in the menu it will open a new window and you may have to go down to the bottom of the page to find actual links for the buildings.

"Introduction" is a ~15 minute video explaining the whole project, I think by the man who first ran the project, Peter Reynolds. Some of it is just him talking (lovely voice, btw, as well as very good at not talking 'above' the listener), and some scenes of the farm buildings, the animals, plowing, etc. And of course there are stills of buildings to click on as well.

The round buildings are absolutely lovely, and I like the peaked entrance on the large building as well. Probably one of the safest roofs I've seen as far as being up there working on it -- the bottom edge is fairly close to the ground, so if you lost your footing and fell, you'd roll down the slope and drop maybe 4-5 feet to hit the ground.

Interesting place both from an historical and archaeological viewpoint and also from a sustainability viewpoint.

[EDIT] Definitely check out their Great House page. Has photos of previously built round houses, and also a slide show at the bottom of the page on the construction of the newest one.

NOTE: In one slide they're showing using an old-style crane (tripod) to lift one of the poles, and they say to note that one end of the pole is charred. The reason for this is so that the wood is protected from rot, since it will be in the ground.

Comments

[druidharper.livejournal.com]

Now you know why we are considering the roundhouse as a possibility. There's a couple in Wales who built one, with straw bale walls as I recall, and finds it delightful to live in.

It's one among several things we are considering.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've seen pics of the one in Wales, which was pretty nice. The roof is so much better on these ones though.

Although windows would be nice... with proper insulated glass and maybe indoor shutters.

I was thinking that with the inner wall of poles, you could do things like put up fabric as walls when you want to hide some bits or contain some activities, move them around, or just be able to change the decor easily for holidays. And I think I'd like something more than an open fire pit in the center...

Still, the overall shape and the thatch roof are great.

Did you check out the other pages? I loved the umbrella-like cover for the haystacks.

[druidharper.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I've been keeping an eye on Butser, the one in Wales, and a couple of others steadily for the last several years. This is one reason our Household was building roundhouses at the Amaral site; we were going to build a miniature version of Butser there. Pity it folded. We had part of the wattle fencing up last we went there.

The hearth in them would be central anyway, but I don't see any reason why a more efficient/modern system couldn't be used instead of letting the smoke seep through the thatch...still, that's part of what kept pests out of the thatch..and they could smoke meat hung from the rafters. Not something I want to do these days mind you, but it was done. LOL

If the walls are high enough, windows are easy to accommodate. Those places are quite comfy in winter...and if you use straw bale walls with the thatching you get an overall R value of 50+. And yep, thatch can be treated to be fire resistant, although done right that isn't really entirely necessary unless codes require it.

I've been looking into these for some time. :) Interesting stuff!

[helwen.livejournal.com]

Hmm, yeah I was thinking about the pests and smoking meats. I guess without having been in one with a fire going, I can't judge whether or not the smoke would rise enough for me or other people with asthma to breathe. I would hate to put a chimney through the roof because it would ruin the beautiful lines of the building, but maybe something that drew the smoke up above 7'?

Food for thought, anyway.

[druidharper.livejournal.com]

From discussions I've had with folks who have lived in them, and from the book 'Surviving the Iron Age', I gather the smoke rises into the upper levels such that it isn't a problem at ground level.

You really need the 60 degree pitch on these roofs too so that's a consideration if you're going to raise the walls enough for windows. Not impossible, just takes careful planning.

There's a fellow in Maine that I've spoken to who is a thatcher and that steep pitch on the roof is requires..which means the roof is very tall. I suppose a method of making a better draw for the fire/hearth is possible, just have to be inventive..assuming building codes don't get in the way. They are excellent off grid homes though, I should think.

I still plan on building one. LOL When I have a place to build it.

[oakmouse]

Wow...

[helwen.livejournal.com]

:) Me too...