A Herculean task

We spent three days planning and prototyping how we were going to raise the cruck frames. Finally yesterday we got the first cruck up. Three men with a winch and a gofer (yours truly) struggled to lift it. The frame is very heavy and quite flimsy. Even with a 2"x4" cross brace in place it reminded me of a wobble board. We managed to get it up and braced to a gantry constructed around the gable end wall. Unfortunately it isn't in its proper place. Tomorrow we are going to brace further and try and work out how we can reposition it.

There was no euphoria at having raised the first frame. Everyone was pretty much done in and feeling despondent. The thought of having to struggle to raise another 11 frames was almost too much to bear. Now that the first cruck frame is visible we have become a point of interest, source of amusement and cause for concern for passers by and neighbours. It is apparent that we need machinery to effect the lift but we have no means of getting heavy plant on site. We made a tentative enquiry about hiring a spider crane but the cost is prohibitive. Our immediate neighbour has offered us the use of his drive and we have arranged for a transport truck with an extendable crane to come on Saturday. Fingers crossed that the crane arm will be able to reach over the fence and effect a lift.

#wood #strawbalehouse #cruckframe