Medieval Living

One of the many projects I am working on involves teaching homeschoolers how timber frame-structures are built. During the Middle Ages, timber frame-style buildlings were very common, and they survived for hundreds of years. There is a renewed interest in the U.S. in using timber frame-engineering.

I am designing some tabletop kits that homeschoolers can assemble that will teach them the basics of timber framing. We hope to accomplish several things with these kits: these projects serve as cross-curricular activities, blending history, math/geometry, and science; they help students develop an appreciation for historical building methods; and they are fun and interesting puzzles to solve.

Now, I can spend hours and hours using a mallet and chisel to create these kits, or, if I have access to a mortising machine, I can mass produce them with relative ease. I already have a garage full of woodworking equipment, but a mortiser (1/2 or 3/4 hp) is not among them.

So . . . I am looking either for a donation of a used, working, mortising machine or access to a mortiser (mostly during the weekends). We will provide a receipt for tax purposes (we are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt public charity).

If I were living in the UK now, my plans on constructing a Medieval era living history museum would not make much sense – another museum? Redundant . . . that’s what it would be. They already have some very nice living history museums, using actual historic buildings, not reconstructions. Yesterday I came upon a website for a very nice reclaimed timber frame structure in York, England – being used as a living history museum. Today, another site, Weald and Downland Museum, an open air museum. Using relocated timber frame structures, it seems that they have created a delightful living history museum with activities for all interest levels and ages. One of the items I noted in particular . . . they are teaching timber frame construction, where those serious about learning the trade can build some full size timber frames . . . and then the museum sells the frames to other interested parties. Hmmmmmm – I like that idea! I wonder how many New Mexicans would be interested in that? Oh wait . . . I already know of four or five guys who are chomping at the bit to build a timber frame structure!!! And I think selling them would be easy too. Yeah, I like that idea. Another item on the to-do list! Some of the other activities (there are alot!!!) included leather carving, tile making, pole lathe turning, weaving rush and cane seating, and . . . keeping pigs.

C2AJNTJS8VCR