Building a Former on Bank Holiday Monday
Precision cuts
This is the construction that will hold all the steamed poles in the exact curves needed for dome shaped alachigh frame for the Red Tent. Its key attributes are strength and precision.
Exactly
Ronnie, Martin and Sue met up for two and half hours on Bank Holiday Monday armed with bolts, nuts, tape measures, set squares and some hefty timber and built the former in situ next to the steam box site.
Sawing in the sunshine
It took some minute adjustments but gradually the former became a thing of curved beauty that (we hope) will fit all 35 steamed poles next Sunday and for the five weeks after. It’s raised on legs so that 1 foot of pole can poke out at one end (the foot of the pole and the tent) and nine foot of each pole can bend, leaving 4 foot of straight pole to fit into the roof wheel. We have a few spares but we have to hope that there won’t be too much splitting on Sunday!
Taking shape
There are still a few cross bracings and clamping bars to add, but the former is essentially built and tucked snuggly under some corrugated sheet to keep dry for next weekend.
Curved cover
Steam bending day is Sunday May 13th from 9.30 – 5.30 at Sue’s house – here are the directions:
A381, Kingsbrige Hill, out of Totnes towards Kingsbridge. Through Harbertonford and Halwell. Straight past the BP station at Totnes Cross (don’t take left turn to Dartmouth), then 50 yards on, take the second of 2 small unmarked turnings left up through a tunnel of trees. Left at the top small crossroads, and less than a mile down the road, first right to Hutcherleigh (straight on down the hill). At the bottom T-junction, turn left and Green Dragon Barn is the third on the right.
And if you get lost Sue’s number is 01548 521207.
Bolting on the legs
Bring and share lunch at 1pm. Come for the whole day or part of it. We will need to keep the fires roaring for at least four hours to produce lots of hot steam. It should be great fun.
Former Glory