Decorative oak beams?

[Russ]

Hello one and all, first post here.

We live in a (so we're told) a 16th century cottage,with various later additions.
Currently working on the lounge,the sagging hotch potch ceiling came down to reveal
these lovely oak beams with what appears to be some type of ancient decoration (or am i seeing things!)

The chevrons are laid out black/red/white,black/red/white on every other beam,with the one in between
a solid red/orange colour.

Has anyone seen this type of oak beam decoration before? When would it have been applied?

The aim is to plaster between the beams and keep the decoration on show, good idea?

Thanks, Russ.

 

[middi]

Hi
Those beams could be re-used beams from a previous house that was constructed with a "teasle post" .
the teasle post supports a " dragon beam" , into this beam the floor joist are morticed at 45 deg angle which eventually rest on the bressumer post of the exterior stud wall. I guess that the shevrons you can see are previous marks left by wide oak laths that may have been used for a previous floor. This arrangement of construction is only found where a house jetty is continued from one elevation into an adjacent one and sometime around the complete building.
This is the only thing that springs to mind at the momemnt.

Yes, I would plaster between the beams and leave these exposed. ( it is a question of choise and preference really).

Middi

 

[MdB]

It looks more like a deliberate pattern to me. Every other beam is like it in a repeating three colour fashion. I doubt you would get that from other boards being fitted to them. I'm no expert though.

 

[CatherineB]

Hello Russ, and welcome! You have made a lovely discovery, whatever its purpose (looks decorative to me too), and I would also keep them exposed.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Chevron decoration of that sort was popular as a painted wall decoration in the 12th-14th centuries. It also appears on Church roof beams through the Middle Ages (and in Victorian gothic revival examples).

 

[Moo]

Would it be possible to remove the lath marks without disturbing the pattern that (I hope) you want to keep?

 

[biffvernon]

Maybe they were reused from road signs used to warn speeding ox-carts of sharp bends in the road.

 

[middi]

Maybe they were reused from road signs used to warn speeding ox-carts of sharp bends in the road.

Good one, I wish I had thoufgt of that Biff, I am really annoyed with myself.

Middi

 

[robgil]

Lovely, if when you switch the light on in that room and each individual chevron lights up in succession you can easily assume your home was once a massive pin ball machine for the local giant.
Lovely. Be careful cleaning them.

 

[Russ]

Thanks for all the replies/theories I personally think they are decorative, what period i don't know.. Have to keep digging i guess.

I will try and gently clean them a little more. Then plaster in between and leave them exposed. Once done i'll post up a couple of pictures. Russ.