A New person’s impression of Wychurst

When I first went to a Wychurst work weekend I did not know what to expect; I had actually been to Wychurst before, as I had attended a couple of military training sessions held there so I knew what was there.

However, for those of you who haven’t been there I’ll describe the setting. You get to Wychurst by an access road that has several pot holes in it; you drive past the scout hut that is nearby and through the gates to Wychurst. The first building you come across is a small thatched hut on the right. Beyond it you can see what is to become the main gatehouse and through the gap over the small bridge you see the imposing Great Hall. The long hall itself is no small structure, at the moment much of its roof is covered with blue plastic except for the areas where wooden shingles have been placed. The walls have been all daubed, with a few panels sporting white plaster. Inside, the oak beams make a striking scene with a lofty ceiling. Around the long hall area (or burgh) there is a wooden palisade which is built on a raised circular bank surrounding the site. Outside the palisade you immediately come across a defensive ditch that surrounds the burgh, and the burgh itself is accessed by two bridges. Around the burgh there is a strip of land. At one part the fence meets an enclosure with some deer that are always curious as to what these odd humans are doing, especially when the chainsaw is being used!

So myself and another member of my group turned up, not sure what we were going to be doing but were quickly pressed into service. We were put onto burning duty (one that as Normans we were accustomed to), so we spent the day stacking logs and burning branches from Corsican pines (which are naturally hideously inauthentic) to allow native trees a chance to grow and to clear an area around the defencive burgh. The atmosphere from the place was industrious but calm and relaxed, with people often cracking jokes (especially the daubers, who aren't called the Poo Crew for nothing - cow dung is an essential ingredient!).

Since that first weekend forest clearing has not been the only test I have done. I have also done some daubing, some childminding, some thatching and been a part of the palisade crew. I found that despite having no prior experience in most of these tasks the people doing them were willing to show me what needed to be done. It is a good feeling when you look at parts of Wychurst and you can identify parts you helped to construct.

Being able to spend a work weekend in the idyllic setting that is Wychurst is not the only thing that keeps me going back. It’s the prospect of being part of this ever expanding project that will keep being improved. It’s the idea of the many buildings that are being planned once the long hall and palisade are complete. It’s the vision of the future being able to spend an entire weekend there in totally authentic settings. It’s being a part of something unique.

For those people who wonder if it is justified I ask them to go and look at Wychurst and wander around taking in the setting and looking around the burgh and long hall. Personally I am looking forward to seeing Wychurst develop and grow in the coming years. It’s a project that holds a lot of depth and can do so much. I look forward to seeing you at the long hall.