In this video, you will see the full process of turning a tree into a plank. The Shipwrights and Volunteers start by cleaving a tree at the National Trust, Sutton Hoo site. You will see Tranmer House in the opening shots where Mrs Pretty lived when the Mound 1 ship was discovered. This particular oak tree was donated by the National Trust at Blicking Hall.
Once cleaved into the sections, this example is taken down to an oversized plank by Volunteers from the 23 Para's Regiment based near Woodbridge. The Paras worked with us for several months at the start of 2023 and will hopefully return in the Autumn. This is heavy work that takes strength and accuracy. If your axe digs in deeper than required, the plank can easily be damaged.
The oversized plank is then painstakingly taken down to size, with each removed layer requiring more and more precision.
#suttonhooship #suttonhoo #axework #oakland #nationaltrust #thelongshed www.saxonship.org
