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Oak Frame Houses Kent
Oak framing is a traditional building technique in Kent. Many of our listed buildings are oak frame houses dating back several hundred years, showing the sustainability and enduring strength of a traditional oak frame. Sandwich in Kent was a cinque port, and is now a major tourist attraction in the Dover area due to the quaintness and beauty of its many timber frame houses.
The Admiral Owen in Sandwich shows a fine example of an oak framed building which is jettied on two sides. This will have involved the use of a dragon beam (a diagonally running beam) in order to support the jetty in both directions. Admiral Owen can be found near the Quay in Sandwich.
Canterbury in Kent also has numerous oak timber framed buildings dating back to Tudor times. The Weavers House dates back over 500 years, and despite being built on the River Stour, it still stands strong today. (It may be that alder was used for the foundations as this timber is often used as pilings in waterlogged areas as it does not rot. Venice was built on alder timber). The Weavers House is double jettied, with bay windows and a mixture of curved and straight braces, giving it an eclectic look.
