The forge is a chance to try out many of the materials and methods that we will use on the mill. This includes the insulation regime.
Here you see a good thick layer of wool lining the walls. What you cannot see is the space age, breathable multi-foil insulation layer just under the weatherboarding. We're already surprised at the difference it all makes to both noise and thermal performance.
When we found this enamel sign in the mill, it was so dirty that we thought it was just one of a number of sheets of rusty metal.
The sign is advertising animal feed from a company called R&W Paul Ltd, an Ipswich based company founded in 1842. The brewery diversified into the manufacture of animal feedstuffs after 1877.
The company was eventually sold to the Irish-based agriculture and sugar conglomerate, Greencore.
Oakley framers work as a well oiled team. They don’t stop but keep up a steady relentless pace moving heavy oak posts and beams. The four of them loaded and unloaded 9 tons of garage materials and drove down from Corby all before 11am. By evening the oak frame was up.