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May 2004
The sheep have arrived; Six Soay sheep, four ewes, one ram and a wether. Soay are the most prmitive breed of sheep having been isolated on the uninhabited Scottish island of Soay in the St Kilda group and therefore are close to the unimproved sheep of the early Anglo-Saxons. They strongly resemble the sheep depicted in the 'Labours of the months' MS (BL Cotton Julius A. vi - May).
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April 2004
Work has begun on an animal shelter, which will act as an apprentice piece for the larger buildings. It is being made as a simple A-frame structure, similar to a grubenhaus but on a base-frame so that it can be moved as required. It will be used to house either pigs or sheep.
| The basic A-frame has been made using simple lap joints. It measures about 6' long by 3' wide. Hazel withies are cut and trimmed to make the rafters using bill hooks. |  |
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The withies are woven into the frame. |
| Reeds are cut to make thatch using a sickle ... |  |
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... and bundles of reeds tied together ... |
| ... and cut to length. |  |
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The bundles are then laid against the rafters in preparation for thatching the roof. |
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