Step back in time and help build a Neolithic house by hand

Sunday 11 February 2018

Jersey Heritage is looking for volunteers to help build a full scale replica of a Neolithic longhouse at La Hougue Bie, using authentic tools and traditional techniques, under the direction of ancient technology expert Luke Winter.

With a thatch roof and wattle and daub walls, when complete the building will be completely weatherproof and will provide an educational resource for school children and other visitors.

The construction process, which is predominantly based outside, involves the use of traditional hand tools and draws heavily on “green woodworking” techniques.

Volunteers will be trained and guided through each stage of the construction process. Mr Winter, of Historic Concepts Ltd., has 30 years of experience in the experimental construction of buildings based on archaeological evidence, and was involved in the creation of five Neolithic houses at the Stonehenge Visitors Centre.

As part of this project, volunteers are being encouraged to develop their own specific skills and knowledge in order to genuinely contribute to the construction and life of the building. 

Jersey Heritage have recruited a core of volunteers who are interested in seeing the project through from beginning to end. This volunteer “core” is working alongside many other volunteers and forms the heart of this experimental project.

Pictured: Sketches of the Neolithic Longhouse.

They are now looking for a team of enthusiastic, knowledgable and skilful volunteers who will be willing to perform day to day maintenance tasks after the.construction phase is complete. Candidates need to be at least 18 years old with a reasonable level of fitness and interest in island heritage and the ability to offer regular blocks of time to the project. No previous experience of working with timber construction is required, although volunteers who have such experience are welcome.

Jersey Heritage said: "Using volunteers allows enthusiastic people to really immerse themselves in all aspects of re-creating a full sized building from the past.  The experience has proved itself to be rewarding time and time again and develops high levels of skill, knowledge and camaraderie in each volunteer."

Once complete the Neolithic Longhouse will be used as a visitor and schools education centre for teaching about Late Stone Age people in Jersey. The building will be made of several large upright wooden posts covered in wattle and daub with a thatched roof. Once erection of the vertical posts is completed, woven walls of willow, wattle, will be constructed and then covered in daub (clay with straw/cow dung/horse hair). 

The project first started in September 2016 with training for core volunteers followed by some trial builds so that the volunteers could practise their skills on a smaller scale. It is estimated that the building will be complete by the end of 2018. 

Anyone interested in joining the building can download a volunteer application from the Jersey Heritage website or contact the volunteer coordinator by email julia.coutanche@jerseyheritage.org or phone 633342.