Students help construct new Sports Pavilion
In the school’s Outdoor Work area, several large oak beams are being shaped to form the pavilion’s framework by former Bedales students Gabriel Langlands, John Russell and Henry Russell. Students from Block 3 (Year 9) to sixth form have been helping Gabriel, John and Henry chisel the green English Oak into the many elements of the framework using a traditional English timber framing method. Bedales students are learning the skills to shape wood, such as cleaving out pegs from the oak that will secure the joins of the structure.
Commenting on the construction project, John Russell, said: “It is great to be back at Bedales to help with this building project. The country is enjoying a renaissance in traditional timber frame buildings and it is a pleasure to teach students these methods. I believe it is important that students of design should learn how to sharpen tools of the trade and understand how to work with wood grain. I’m glad to be involved in passing on these skills to future generations, and to help inspire them with the wonderful buildings that have been constructed in this way, such as the Sotherington Barn in Bedales’ Outdoor Work area and the school’s Grade 1 listed Memorial Library.”
The Sam Banks Pavilion will support tennis, hockey, athletics, rounders, cricket and football, and will also be available to the local community. The next phase of the project will be to transport the timber frame to its permanent home, where the foundations are being made ready for the erection of the framework. For more details of the project visit http://www.bedales.org.uk/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
