Building the Celtic Roundhouse

Why We Built the Roundhouse

For us the process of building the roundhouse has been as important as the finished product. The use of local wood and traditional tools has been a vital component to the project. Volunteers from eight to eighty have had a hand in the building process and learnt practical skills in the use of natural materials and hand tools as a result.

After our opening ceremony on 29 Oct 2005 it is now our aim to make use of the roundhouse as an outdoor classroom as well as a learning resource in itself. Activities involving the use of plant dyes and preparation of forest based foods are planned. Spinning wool, hurdle making, wildlife tracking and story telling are also anticipated crafts and skills to be learnt in and around the roundhouse structure. These we hope will provide an full programme of attractive learning opportunities for schools and the wider community, eager to learn about life in Pre-Roman Britain, in addition to broadening the spectrum of forest based education which our service offers.

How We Built the Roundhouse

In truth, we should say 'not without a lot of help from other people!'

Since work on the roundhouse commenced in September 2002 the following groups and organisations have been involved in the building of the structure:

Winkleigh ACE
Sticklepath & Okehampton Conservation Group
Duchy College
Shebbear Community Primary School
Ashwater Primary School
Bicton College
C-FAR
Tarka Agenda 21
The Small School
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers

and...numerous individuals from the community

Collectively this accumulates to over 240 volunteer days of community involvement.

Other people have also given their time and expertise on the project:

David Freeman - Gallica (Celtic Archaeological Consultant)
Julian Moles - Habitat Restoration
Gordon Fisher & Janet Daynes (Archaeology enthusiasts)

Pictures can be seen in the Roundhouse Gallery

Materials Used So Far in the Roundhouse

45 Bundles of Coppiced Hazel Poles (for wattle and purlins)
36 Oak Posts (for wall posts and wall plate)
36 Ash poles (for rafters)
3 x 100metre Bundles of Sisal Twine (for tying in purlins and thatch)
72 Oak Pegs (cut and shaped manually)
5 Bales / 400 bundles of Scottish Reed (for the rick-style roof thatching)
12 metre iron chain and hook (for cooking pot suspended from the rafters)
10 tonnes of silver sand
Many wheelbarrow-loads of clay and animal dung
Straw and human hair

We have had a lot of in-kind support with the supply of materials and machinery from Forest Enterprise. Further materials have come from other local suppliers:

Grascott Farm
Shilstone Farm
West Coombe Farm
Brian Williamson (Hurdlemaker)
Westward Wire & Rope Supplies
Down to Earth Tools
Mole Avon Farmers
John Wadden Ltd
Roger Hill Thatching Supplies
Robert 'Benny' Venn (Ironsmith)

Thanks to David Freeman of 'Gallica' who has advised and instructed us on design and construction...'the Celtic Way'!

Jobs still to complete

Hurdle Making
Footpath and Boardwalk construction
Floor surfacing
Painting Celtic Wall Decorations

Pictures can be seen in the Roundhouse Gallery

How the Roundhouse Project has been Funded

Money for the construction of the roundhouse has come from the Forest Education Initiative (FEI) - a partnership organisation set up:

To increase the use of woodlands and related industries for first hand learning by educators and others.
To increase opportunities for individuals and communities to learn about the importance of trees and forests for conservation of the environment, for the landscape, and for biodiversity.
To increase the opportunities for people to learn about the link between the tree and everyday wood products and the social, economic and environmental benefits of wood as a sustainable resource, both locally and globally.
To increase the opportunities for individuals and communities to improve their emotional and physical well being through a range of educational, training and learning experiences with wood, trees and woodlands.

Match funding has come from Torridge and Mid-Devon District Councils along with SW Environment Trust, each contributing £1000 towards the project, in addition to the in kind contributions of materials and machinery from Forest Enterprise.

Further information on the FEI can be found at: foresteducation.org.uk.