Plank and Muntin

Restoration of plank and muntin screen in 16th century cottage. One muntin and the top rail were the only original parts that remained of this screen. Someone had made a poor attempt at recreating the rest in the 1980s. This was all sharp machined edges and looked really out of place, so it had to go. The task was to create a screen more in keeping with the original and preserving the remaining historic fabric.

Devon oak, axe and handplaned. Drawbored. Ledge door fixed with clinched blacksmith rosehead nails. The nails themselves were found in an old nailmakers shop in the Black Country. Probably a hundred years old at least. A little iron polish to protect them. The whole thing limewashed as it would have been in the 16th century.

 

The original muntin is the first wide one on the left; one narrow muntin, a plank and then our extant muntin.

The cottage had had several inappropriate things done to it in the 1980s renovations. That situation is now being improved with the removal of inappropriate materials and replacement with materials more appropriate for ancient buildings.