Marks on old timber bressummer beam above inglenook

[Leo]

Im wondering if anyone recognises these marks on a timber bressummer beam above our inglenook- i.e. seen something similar before or might be able to guess their original purpose? Rectangular shape depression with two squares chiselled (?) out of the beam. The origins of the house are early 15th C and I know the romantic tendency is to label it as re-used timber from ships - which I understand usually they aren't (we are about 40 mins from Sussex coast so conceivable, but I think unlikely). There is also evidence of a bread oven so maybe something to do with cooking? Or they might be just random and unique to the property. Thanks!

 

[Gothichome]

Top anchor support for a large cooking crane maybe. The holes could be allowances for a dog or chimney powered spit, highly unlikely though. It is interesting.

 

[a twig]

Potentially two things in play here, the 4 squares with the central hole makes me think pattress plate from a wall tie, one of the more “posh” cast iron affairs rather than the standard X

Then the top rectangle looks to me like a later addition for some for of inlaid sign with a small screw/nail hole either end.

Probably completely wrong though

 

[Zebra]

I have no idea but that fireplace is gorgeous!

 

[Cubist]

Its always wise, with these old places, to remember that there has been 500 years or more for the timbers to have been used, re-used,adapted and modified for any number of reasons. Also, that some of the timbers may have been cannibalised from other buildings - or indeed ships and other structures (I've read somewhere of oak beams being scavenged from a defunct gallows) - and used either during the original construction of the house or added as part of a later addition/modification. As this beam forms an integral part of an inglenook there is a very good chance, if the house does date to the 15thC, that the chimney was a later addition and therefore the beam was acquired and re-purposed to support the chimney breast above the fireplace. To my mind the various holes and notches appear to confirm that conclusion.

The two round holes are of a size and relative location to suggest they were originally cut to accept wooden pegs that would. be used to lock a mortice and tenon joint; is there any evidence of a mortice below them? If yes then that would likely confirm that the beam was reclaimed from some other structure. It can be hard to reliably guage dimensions from a photograph but I'm estimating the width of the beam to be in the order of 16-18 inches. This would suggest it was a principle timber used to connect the outer frames/bents and to support upper floors and roofs, in which case the mortice would have been used to provide support from a post below or for the beam to support say a king post above.

As to the other rebates and notches. My first thought when considering the rectangular rebate, was that it was perhaps cut to accept the butt plate of a large strap hinge used to mount a very large and/or heavy door - feasible perhaps if the beam was originally a post and the apparent screw holes may also support that conclusion. The four square rebates have me stumped but they do appear to be centred on on the peg hole. The red herring I'm chasing there is that the peg hole was used to accept a round rod mounted on a plate which had protuberances corresponding to the cut outs and these would allow the plate to be rotated through 90-360 degrees; but I'm blessed if I can think of why such a contrivance would be needed.

Sadly we may never know what the reasoning was for some of these quirky modifications but we can at least wonder and perhaps marvel at some of these little mysteries. I doubt this has helped but thanks for the opportunity to mentally roam and ramble. Stay in touch.

 

[Toby Newell]

Im wondering if anyone recognises these marks on a timber bressummer beam above our inglenook- i.e. seen something similar before or might be able to guess their original purpose? Rectangular shape depression with two squares chiselled (?) out of the beam. The origins of the house are early 15th C and I know the romantic tendency is to label it as re-used timber from ships - which I understand usually they aren't (we are about 40 mins from Sussex coast so conceivable, but I think unlikely). There is also evidence of a bread oven so maybe something to do with cooking? Or they might be just random and unique to the property. Thanks!
View attachment 10016View attachment 10017

wow, (no idea) but particularly massive pit saw

 

[henpen]

Fireplaces were used for cooking. Could it be that for example a heavy duty rotating spit was secured on the beam? see here for some attachments:
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