Timber framing has been a native tradition since at least the thirteenth century and its hallmarks are visible up and down the British Isles. The black and white facade of the Tudor oak-framed house is one of the most recognisable architectural characteristics in existence. The buildings that survive today are mainly products of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when this type of construction was most common. They are the work of skilled carpenters, who had served long apprenticeships and are all unique in character.

However, with the invention of cheap, easily manufactured building materials such as brick, after six hundred years of historical success, at the time of the industrial revolution, entire timber framed buildings became increasingly rare in Britain. Westward expansion turned house building from a craft into an industry and craftsmen into labourers. Buildings that could be erected quickly with minimal effort became the order of the day.

More recently oak dropped out of favour during the period from 1960-80, however a resurge in enthusiasm for the pragmatic beam and post structures of the past has increased its popularity over the past few years . Nowadays building practises of the past are hot on the heels of the present and yesterday's craftsmanship is meeting the efficiency needs of today. A recent revival has found this 1/2 timber, 1/2 plaster method of construction back in favour for its aesthetics and durability.

A new build interior benefits from the traditional touch.

The framing members of an Oak structure - posts, beams, studs, rails, braces plates and rafters - are held together using mortise and tenon joints secured with tapered pegs. The skills used today to fabricate such components draw heavily on those used historically in timber framing. In prefabrication the carpenter will treat the building as a series of frames that must be fitted, to perfection, on the ground before erection. Oak tends to be the most popular material for such structures and can add considerable value to a property. Not only this but its place at the heart of our national consciousness lends it a unique value and appeal.

Thanks to the recent surge in demand for the humble timber frame and the popularity of rustic style interior decor the future looks bright for the oak framing business. Developments have allowed the industry to move on, combining the timber with new materials and making it possible to produce more unusual structures with curves and contours, that are not limited by the rigid lines of the tree itself. A natural and sustainable resource, it seems that its increased prosperity can only have a positive impact on the way we build today and in times to come.