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The material
We have been using timber to construct our buildings across the UK since prehistoric times. As time progressed, and more and more forest and woods were cut down for building materials, timber became short in supply. After the mediaeval period, it was only used to construct the wealthier people’s houses or for internal features that showed off the wealth of the property owner. Nevertheless for the vast majority of historic buildings - be it a church, home, barn, or a grand palace – timber was used to create upper floors and for the roof structure. Carpenters were usually known as ‘wrights’ in mediaeval times and as well as building houses, they made ploughs, carts and, if they lived along the coast, they would make ships. Joiners specialised in carving the timber so that it could be joined together with mortice and tenon joints for timber-frames, internal partitions, roofs, and furniture. Carvers used their skills to sculpt the wood into decorative mouldings, figures and shapes. Some of the best examples of wood carving can still be seen in many of our cathedrals and parish churches.
You can still see a lot of historic timber–framed buildings across the UK today, particularly in South Lancashire, Cheshire, the West Midlands, Eastern Wales, Suffolk and Essex.
The skill
It is important that carpenters and joiners understand how different types of wood may be used and affected by different conditions, such as moisture content and shrinkage. Today, you can choose to specialise in either carpentry or joinery.
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