We’re putting our new timber frame into the ground before everything freezes. These are the first post-holes for The Francis Cooke House at Plimoth Plantation. Early houses in Plimoth Colony didn’t have foundations and were part of a long tradition of earthfast architecture where upright posts and sometimes studs were put directly into the ground. Cooke’s posts will be raised in pairs, connected by a beam. We spent some time before digging to establish precise post-hole location and depth. Moving 3 joined oak timbers–each weighing several hundred pounds–after they’ve been dropped into a hole is nobody’s idea of fun.
How to make a video about digging holes compelling? Start with some decent music…
Tags: 17th century house, earthfast, English carpentry, pilgrim house, Plimoth Plantation, The Francis Cooke House, timber frame
hahahaha!
You dog you!
Soooo funny! Can’t wait for next installment.
Somehow “Earthfast” sounds so much classier than “polebarn”!
Thanks for making even digging amusing! I love this blog.
you’re a funny boy–liked it.