Inglenook beam carving

[dinglem]

Hi all,

The large beam running over our inglenook fireplace appears to have a circular area in the back which has been carved out for some reason. By back, i mean on the fire side of the beam, as opposed to visible from the rest of the room.

You can only really see this carved out area if you are stood in the inglenook. It is approximately 3/4 of the way along the length of the beam, and is around 8inches in diameter, going quite deep into the beam itself.

Could any of you suggest a reason why this may be present? The house (farmhouse) dates from around 1660.

Regards,

md

 

[MdB]

Could it be a reused beam? Just a guess.

 

[Moo]

Did they use to hang something from it?

 

[Penners]

MdB's suggestion seems very likely. Re-use of good beams was/is widespread.

 

[Penners]

Did they use to hang something from it?

Peasants perhaps? (And no, I haven't omitted an "H"!)

 

[Moo]

We had a kitchen extension supported with a beam that had been rescued from the Co-op in Luton. The notches that had once housed the rafters came in very handy for keeping our collection of Robinson's Gollies visible yet out of the reach of little hands.


(and yes, we still have them (the gollies, not the little hands), and yes, they're still on display)

 

[Penners]

We had a kitchen extension supported with a beam that had been rescued from the Co-op in Luton.

I say - how frightfully democratic. :wink:

 

[Moo]

We're like that - couldn't you tell?.

 

[Penners]

It's difficult to tell what's under the aristocratic gloss.

Noblesse oblige, clearly!

 

[Moo]

On the other hand, it could be argued that we contributed to the demolition of that noble institution.
So that makes us ......?

 

[Penners]

...guilty of co-opicide. I don't know how you sleep at night.

 

[Nemesis]

I admit to being a co-op member. Anyone can join, costs a pound. It has many more 'green' credentials than T***o, and I get a share of the profits annually, along with all other members.

http://museum.co-op.ac.uk/


Sadly, following this merger:

http://www.co-operative.co.uk/en/corporate/


one of the two co-ops in our local town will have to close. I hope we don't get a mini-T***o in its place but as it seems to be taking over the world it's possible.

 

[Moo]

Get in there quick and you, too, may be able to pick up a nice big pitch-pine beam.

 

[Nemesis]

Sadly our beautiful historic co-op was burnt down several decades ago and replaced by something nasty.

The one closing is a building dating back -oooh, at least twenty years. It is up for sale.

 

[Penners]

The co-op in Sudbury closed last year, and has just re-opened as a J D Weatherspoon bar.

So instead of spilling out middle-aged ladies carrying candlewick bedspreads, it now spills out drunken, vomiting youths spoiling for a fight and a pee in a shop doorway.

I understand it's known as progress. :roll:

 

[Nemesis]

I had breakfast in a Weatherspoons Sunday.

Just over two quid. (Not the liquid variety...)

Give it a try.