The side and front walls of The Ruin have been constructed as half-timbered structure (colombage pierroté). Half-timbering is an old building technique that uses heavy squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers. The joints are secured by large wooden pegs, and spaces between the beams  are  filled with masonry. Using axes, adzes and draw knives, hand powered auger drill bits (bit and brace), and laborious woodworking, artisans or farmers could gradually assemble a building capable of bearing heavy weight without excessive use of interior space given over to vertical support posts.

 

Typical colombage pierroté

Half-timbering was used throughout Europe in medieval times and later, from the 12th century to the 18th century.  The look re-emerged as a “Tudor style”, where dark-stained beams have decorative function without being a part of the structure, and walls are of plastered brick instead of masonry.  The medieval half-timbered structures can be seen in old towns and villages throughout Europe.

Our second (north) house has the authentic, old half-timbering construction, intact from medieval times.  The adjacent (south) house’s front and east walls were destroyed at some point of history, rebuilt without cross-beams and re-plastered. However, all interior walls of both houses preserved original, lovely half-timbered beaming and truly medieval character.

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