Most of the tools used to construct the buildings are modern copies of original artefacts which are hand forged by a smith using traditional techniques (Fig 1).
Most woodwork was done using axes, probably because of the difficulty of producing iron of sufficient quality to make large saws. These come in a variety of shapes and weights, each with a different purpose. The most distinctive forms of the Anglo-Saxon period is the wide bladed T-axe (4th from right) used to dress planks.
Also used was a side axe (2nd from right), again used to give a smooth finish to timber. This allows very thin shavings of wood to be taken, the sort of final dressing that would now be done with a plane.
