green oak jointed and pegged grand entrance

Green Oak traditional style cruck timber frame in Cornwall

This green English Oak traditional cruck frame frames the entrance porch for the lovely new extension at the Duchy of Cornwall Nursery in Lostwithiel.

Crucks are long curved timbers, usually two halves of the same trunk, framed together in pairs and joined by a tie beam or collar. There are over 2000 examples of historic crucks recorded in England and Wales, dating from around the early 13th century or later.

Many old farmhouses in the Devon countryside contain jointed cruck frames and several examples have been found in Cornwall and so we were delighted to have the opportunity to build a new cruck frame in the county.

Photos below show the cruck sections during the hand scribing and framing of the huge cruck blades.

cruck frame entrance porch to garden nursery

green oak sawn heavy cruck posts being measured for timber framing

cruck blades on trestles ready for framing to start

Timber frame oak post cruck blade and interrupted tie beam

timber framed cruck nearly finished. This is the post cruck and the interrupted tie being framed.

green oak timber frame king post feature trusses and purlins

Heavy timber framed roofs and Oak or softwood feature trusses and purlins

Tradition
Strength
Function
Beauty
Character

Of the many different regional styles of English historic roof timber framing, the King and Queen Post truss styles are the most widely recognised and used most frequently in renovations and new builds.

There are some other fantastic traditional architectural styles of timber framed roofs such as cruck frames, sling braces, scissor trusses and arch brace trusses, as well as the modern method of using stainless steel rigging to add a contemporary feel to traditional trusses.

We have hundreds of examples of Oak and softwood trusses that we have built over the years. There are far too many to show here but please scroll down for a variety of traditional and contemporary feature and structural trusses.

Douglas Fir vaulted feature roof in barn conversion

Douglas Fir timber framed feature King Post truss roof on barn conversion

These King Post trusses and purlins, made from locally grown Douglas Fir provide character with a sharp contemporary feel to the modern extension of a barn conversion. The Douglas Fir was cut on our sawmill, planed on our beam planer and grown less than a mile from our framing yard!

Bremridge music concert venue near Ashburton Devon with mezzanine and oak balcony

green oak timber frame with a vaulted roof

Green Oak timber framed sling brace truss roof with a mezzanine balcony

A sling brace truss allows for a vaulted roof space with huge character and avoids the need for a collar which can reduce head space in the upper floor. This timber frame and the oak mezzanine balcony were built in a lovely Devonshire barn conversion which is used as an events venue.

Timber framed feature King Post trusses

The classic and attractive familiar King Post Truss, also known as a Crown Post, consists of a central post which rises from the tie beam to support the ridge of the roof. The struts can be straight or curved.

Feature jointed and pegged green oak king post trusses with oak purlins

Timber framed Queen Post trusses

queen post truss green oak timber frames devon

Green Oak Queen Post trusses in a riverside cabin

feature green oak queen post trusses and purlins in a barn conversion

Green Oak Queen Post trusses and purlins in a Devon barn conversion

Timber Framed Douglas Fir roof for a barn conversion. This project was a contract timber frame, designed on our 3D CAD programme and built for a local construction company.

Timber framed cut roof for a Cornish barn conversion shown on our 3D CAD CAM timber design software

Locally grown Douglas Fir timber framed jointed and pegged roof with trusses and purlins

barn conversion in cornwall with a timber framed roof being built

3D CAD designed timber framed roof

Douglas fir vaulted roof barn conversion during construction on a rainy day in Cornwall

Timber Framed roof for barn conversion

Timber framed green oak arch brace truss in a Dartmoor barn restoration

Another historic truss design is the Arch brace truss, the primary function of which is to create a large span without the use of a tie beam. Arch brace trusses are rather time consuming to make but they look great and offer amazing character! These trusses and purlins were made for a barn conversion on Dartmoor.

Traditional arch brace green oak timber framed trusses and purlins in a barn conversion

hand crafted timber frame arch brace truss devon

Replica hand hewn feature scissor trusses for historic Devonshire barn restoration

Tom used his hand hewing and scribing skills to carve these trusses from naturally curved Larch poles. The bespoke replica scissor trusses replaced decayed trusses in an historic Devonshire barn undergoing a very honest restoration and conversion.

Our customers invited us back to visit the 18th Century barn after finishing a conversion which really allows the character of the original barn to shine through. The hand scribed replica scissor trusses that Tom made from hewn local Larch provide a great feature in the main living area of the barn, which is now used as a holiday cottage https://www.higherkellacott.co.uk/