York College Students Make Interpretive Arbour For The Arboretum Trust
Final year Higher National Certificate students of furniture design and restoration/conservation at York College have been instrumental in designing and constructing an interpretive arbour on ‘diseased wood samples’ for The Arboretum as one of their primary units on the course.
The interpretive arbour is a timber shelter containing both information and samples of diseased woods. Whilst ‘disease’ can cause decay and faults in timber, the different grains caused by ‘disease’ in woods are much loved by all furniture makers as the variations in the grain give the designs uniqueness, thereby making stylish and interesting pieces of furniture.
The old and rather simple information board had fallen into disrepair when the students came to the rescue. Students on the course are required to do a group project every year as one of the units for their qualification in 3D Design Furniture Conservation and Restoration.
Sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers the interpretive arbour is sited at the south end of the Furniture Makers Walk.
“York College has a wealth of experience in woodworking and the furniture industry and we are fortunate to have in close proximity country houses like Castle Howard and its Arboretum offering the opportunity for us to explore and to learn, establishing a common understanding and appreciation of this very special heritage and resource.” (John Apps, Course Tutor)
“It has been exciting to see how the York College students have risen to the challenge of displaying, out of doors, sections of wood exhibiting changes caused by various disease and physiological disorders. Their innovative interpretive solution of providing an open attractive timber shelter, within which the samples are suspended by chains, allows visitors to touch and inspect the various woods, whilst also protecting both visitor and samples. It is very pleasing and very functional and I am personally delighted with the result.” (John Simmons OBE VMH Curator)
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The basic structure is constructed with green oak, held together by traditional pegged mortice and tenon joints |
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Shingles, for the roof, being made in a traditional manner from sweet chestnut felled in the arboretum |
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Work continues during a summer shower |
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Roof almost complete |
Terry Holden, Stephen Loynes, John Apps, Tony Farr |
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Details of some of the samples |
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