Sessile Oak
Sessile Oak workshop Intricate wooden carving

News, Events & Updates

Keep up to date with the latest updates, news and events from Sessile Oak here...

Workshop Schedule Slot Update

With a further green oak frame commission now booked in to follow on from our current project, our next available slot in our workshop schedule will be from: May 2024

In the meantime, we continue to welcome all enquiries for subsequent projects.

More information about project design, commissioning, sheduling and workshop slots, as well as on-site processes, can be found on the pages below...


Some Recent Updates

February 2024 ∼ Northeast Town House

Hart Town House Phase 1 Once again, as so often has been the case recently, we lucked out with the weather when we travelled over to the northeast to erect the first of three frames within a substantial new-build town house project near Hartlepool. With an early start, the frame was up by lunch time and we were back in Cumbria in time for tea.

Lake District Storm Porch

November 2023 ∼ Lake District Storm Porch

Another miraculously dry day in the currect spell of inclement weather saw us in the western Lakes erecting a very solid bespoke storm porch on a modernised family home facing a village green on the western edge of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.

October 2023 ∼ Carved Oak Door Stop

Carved Oak Door Stop We are sometimes asked to make something from an off-cut to complement our finished projects, as a small follow-on commission. Recently, we were asked to make a door stop from an off-cut of a ridge beam to match its green oak extension, and the dimensions of the piece lent itself to this very well. When we were also asked to carve something into it, it seemed fitting to carve our Sessile Oak 'seedling' logo.

Arts & Crafts Window

September 2023 ∼ Arts & Crafts Window

We returned to Windermere to install a bespoke green oak window frame for a loggia to complement a conservatory we had installed previously for a listed Arts and Crafts manor house overlooking Lake Windermere.

July 2023 ∼ Dwarf Walled Garden Room

Dwarf Walled Garden Room On site erecting a small bespoke oak frame for a garden room, as a replacement for an older UPVc conservatory, atop the existing dwarf walls. As with our previous project, we had expected heavy rain but the skies cleared to give us glorious sunshine once again.

Round Wood Framing In The Forest

June 2023 ∼ More Round Wood Framing In The Forest

Another short break from our oak framing work to return to the forest to erect the round wood frame in Galloway, Scotland.

The remoteness of the steep site meant only non-mechanised lifting techniques could be used, so we erected the trusses the old fashioned way with ropes, pulleys, levers and a lot of elbow grease. Little by little, each triangular truss went up in succession to create an impressive structure.

May 2023 ∼ Panoramic Extension

Panoramic Extension Two fabulous days on site erecting a bespoke oak frame for a dining room and sitting room extension for a farmhouse in an elevated position in Northumberland, with panoramics views to The Pennines and Hadrian's Wall.

We had expected forecast rain, thunder and lightning but we were blessed with sunshine and a few distant rumbles instead. The frame went up a treat and Keith took the opportunity take a few snaps from a 'man cage' mounted on the lifting arm we used to lift timbers into place.

Butterfly Roof Sun Lounge

March 2023 ∼ Butterfly Roof Sun Lounge

A great couple of days erecting a modern and innovative green oak butterfly roof sun lounge frame bespoke built for a secluded farm steading in the north of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria.

October 2022 ∼ Galleried & Cantilevered Obeya Hall

Galleried & Cantilevered Obeya Hall Comprising 12 tonnes of oak, one of our larger projects completed at the northern edge of the Lake District National Park. We spent two days on site with a small mobile crane in fairly challenging weather, plus a third day pegging joints and bolting the frame down to its base.

Arts & Crafts Conservatory

May 2022 ∼ Arts & Crafts Conservatory

A brilliant day installing a green oak conservatory we bespoke designed and built to complement a listed Arts and Crafts manor house overlooking Lake Windermere.

Summer & Winter 2021-22 ∼ Round Wood Framing In The Forest

Round Wood Framing In The Forest We took some time away from our oak framing to work on some round wood frame projects in a forest in Galloway, Scotland.

Things took a dramatic turn when, midway through the framing, Storm Arwen destroyed around 300 trees and laid waste to much of the site. There was nothing for it but to roll up our sleeves, clean the place up and get stuck back in again.

Two Storey Barn Conversion

April 2021 ∼ Two Storey Barn Conversion

A roof and floor structure for a two storey barn conversion in the North Lakes in Cumbria, comprising a first floor frame with stair well and an arch braced and collared truss roof frame.

March 2021 ∼ Essex Cart Lodge Window Frames

Essex Cart Lodge Window Frames We had a great trip down to Essex to install a set of green oak window frames for a cart lodge attached to a Grade 2 listed cottage.

Larch Cottage Nurseries Front Store

March 2021 ∼ Larch Cottage Nurseries Front Store

It was a pleasure to return to erect a green oak framed open-sided store at the entrance to the Larch Cottage Nurseries garden centre in Melkinthorpe, Cumbria.

Our 2.5 kW Photovoltaic System

In keeping with our Environmental Policy, our 2.5 kilowatt photovoltaic system continues to perform well in supplementing the electricity supply for the workshop, office and house. Solar panels Any surplus produced by the ten panel array is fed back into the grid.

Environmentally Friendly

Oak tree

All our timbers are sourced from sustainably managed and certified woodlands, through reputable suppliers.

Environmental policy button
Environmental Policy

Oak Framed Building Projects

Three storey extension at Larch Cottage Nurseries

View our gallery to see more of our green oak framed building projects we've undertaken over the years.
From simple porches to three storey extensions, we guarantee there's something that will catch your eye!

Green Oak Frame Project Gallery
Oak Frame Gallery

Designing & Commissioning a Build

Designing & Commissioning

Embarking upon your dream project may seem daunting initially, but don't let that deter you, as we have an outline guide ready to get you started through the design and commissioning process.

Design & Commission
Design & Commission Process

Pricing & Quotations

Sessile Oak Pricing

Pricing can vary due to a number of aspects. Each quote, like every finished project, is unique.
Check out our guide here.

Oak frame pricing
Pricing & Quotations

Tools of the Trade

Oak framing hand tools

A brief look at some of the traditional carpentry hand tools we use in our workshop.

Carpentry Tools
Carpentry Hand Tools

Construction on Site

Oak frame construction

After finishing the carpentry in the workshop, the oak frame is then transported to the site and assembled. Here, we provide an outline of the process involved in constructing an oak frame on-site, along with references to further details on subsequent tasks.

Constructing an Oak Frame
Oak Frame Construction

Glazing a Green Oak Frame

Green Oak Orangery

A summary of the various approaches for glazing green oak frames, including choices between the different approaches to direct installation or externally fixed units or frames.

Glazing
Oak Frame Glazing

Cleaning, Finishing, Ageing & Weathering

Cleaned oak

A frame will need to be cleaned once it is in place and shielded from the elements as it matures.

Finishing
Finishing & Weathering

Resources Page

Sunnymede Barn roof

A selection of calculators, converters, charts, on-line tools and other sites detailing and discussing the many aspects of planning, building and managing your projects.

Resources
Resources Page

Carvings & Sculpture Projects

Wooden carving

Occasionally, we undertake carved works. Each piece is a one-of-a-kind work of art, whether it's a small commemorative carving or a large structural sculpture.

Wood Carving Gallery
Carving & Sculpture Gallery

Upcoming Events

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh

The Weirdstring Band at Knockengorroch World Ceilidh

23rd ∼ 26th May 2024

This fantastic gathering deep in the hills of Galloway will be showcasing the best of live music from around the globe.

The Green Gathering
Green Gathering logo

1st ∼ 4th August 2024

Next year's Green Gathering at Piercefield Park in Chepstow is set to return with even more great music, activities, stalls, campaign venues and showcasing a wide variety of green technologies.

The Northern Green Gathering
15th ∼ 18th August 2024

Aiming to encourage sustainable living and permaculture through providing an off-grid family festival. Bands, poets, workshops, cratfs, skill shares and campaigns talks powered by sun, wind and bicycle.

SolfestSolfest tipi 22nd ∼ 25th August 2024

The Solway Festival, or Solfest, near Aspatria in Cumbria, has become the premier event in the north west of England since its beginnings in 2003.

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