Timber Day at Kentwell

From Tree to Bole to Board

Trees

Kentwell has several interesting and/or old trees in its Gardens & Grounds: including the ancient Lime Avenue, the 1,000 year old Oak, various venerable Yews, the magnificent Cedars and the espaliered Fruit Trees in the Walled Garden. Kentwell also has a number of woods which are not Open to the public. From these Kentwell obtains nearly all its timber needs.

Sawmill

Kentwell planks the boles of trees using a very modern transportable power saw, a masterpiece of modern design which does everything necessary in the simplest possible way. The saw can be taken to the point where a tree falls, set up over the fallen log and used to cut up the log as required. However, this saw is limited in the sizes it can cut conveniently to about 8" square.

In addition, Kentwell has a huge 100 year old, traction engine driven (originally but now driven by a Field Marshall Tractor) moving table mill or rack saw which operates a 5 ft blade for bigger boles. The bole is placed on the bench which has a movable top which can be wound to carry the bole up to and through the saw.

With this we should be able to cut any size of timber we are likely to need.

On Timber Day

Tour There will be a Tour round the most interesting trees

Demonstrations The transportable power saw will be shown in operation, planking a bole

The 100 year old rack saw will be shown sawing a large oak log.

Other equipment, such as the chain morticer with which we cut morticers in oak when we are constructing oak framed buildings may also be shown in operation.

Topiary Kentwell's unique Pied Piper Topiary is coming to completion after about 8 years. How this was achieved and how the other shaped trees were formed will be the subject of another Tour.

Times for the above will be published on the day.