HISTORY OF BRITISH WOODLANDS 



several of which could be seen at work within 

 easy reach of old London Bridge. Strange 

 though it may sound, a pit-saw is to-day at 

 work in Westminster Hall converting the 

 oaken logs into the requisite shapes for repairs 

 to the ceiling. When the first sawmill was 

 erected it would be difficult to say, but prob- 

 ably not earlier than the middle of the four- 

 teenth century, and the Bishop of Ely, in 

 1555, quaintly describes one he saw at Lyons 

 as " being driven by an upright wheel, and the 

 water that makes it go is gathered whole in 

 a narrow trough which deliver eth the same 

 water to the wheel." In 1633 a Dutchman 

 erected a " wind sawmill " near the Strand. 



The pit-saw at use in Westminster Hall 

 to-day recalls to memory the old method of 

 converting logs before the circular or bench 

 saw was introduced. As late as a century 

 ago it was not uncommon for timber to be 

 sold in London " by candle," meaning that 

 bidding could continue while a certain portion 

 of the candle was being consumed, and sand- 

 boxes were used in lieu of blotting-paper. 



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