CATALOGUE OF THE TIMBERS OF THE WORLD i8i 



The dining-room of a house at Hyde Park, executed by Messrs. 

 Holland & Hannen, which is a reduced copy of the Brewers' Hall. 



The offices of the P. and 0. Company in Leadenhall Street ; many of 

 the steamers of the company are also trimmed with British oak. 



Mr. G. T. Wills' house at Sunningdale, built by Messrs. J. Bentley & 

 Sons, Waltham Abbey. The timber used in this instance was mostly 

 grown on Lord Chesham's estate at Latimer. 



Mr. T. E. Collcutt's house at Totteridge, Hertfordshire ; Mr. Alfred 

 B. Smith's house, The Crossways, Totteridge ; and Highwood, High- 

 wood Hill, all possess beautiful woodwork entirely executed in British 

 oak. 



Much of the charm of this work depends not only on the varied 

 colouring of the wood, but upon its very irregularities and faultiness, 

 yet architects often reject such wood on account of its knots and uneven 

 grain. Fortunately of late years its use for decorative purposes has 

 increased, and as its beauty has become more appreciated, the difficulties 

 attendant upon an irregular and uncertain demand tend to diminish. 

 The present inadequate supplies will doubtless be augmented- as the 

 craftsman learns that he can execute his work as easily and economically 

 as with the foreign oak. 



It is customary to consider British oak as difficult to work and 

 incapable of standing well after completion— an erroneous and wholly 

 groundless opinion. Much of the modern work mentioned above was 

 executed by O. Ayton and his sons, who, originally country carpenters, 

 were artists in this work, all of which is in perfect condition without 

 shrinkages or any other fault. 



For constructive work the strength and durability of oak are well 

 •recognised. It would be difficult to estimate its life when used sub- 

 merged. The beech piles which formed the foundation, laid in 1202, of 

 Winchester Cathedral were held together by oak spikes, which, a rich 

 black, were found perfectly hard and sound when they were taken out 

 after 700 years. James Thomson & Co. of Peterborough found perfectly 

 sound English oak in the foundations of Holy Trinity Church at Hull, 

 built circa 1270, and said that in their long experience they had never 

 found any other buried woodwork in as sound a condition. Large-sized 

 logs and beams up to 35 feet in length, and 20 inches square were used for 

 the lock-gates for the London Docks. These were taken up for repair 

 and renewal in 1915, having then been in position for periods ranging 

 from 60 to 200 years ; they were found to be hard, in splendid preserva- 

 tion, and nearly black. The oak which replaced the damaged portions 

 was obtained from the Duke of Wellington's park at Strathfieldsaye and 

 measured 35 feet in length, squaring i8| by 19I inches. A tablet giving 

 particulars of the wood and date of submersion was affixed to these logs 



