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PROGRESS 21/02/2007:- Shire Oak Construction are going full steam ahead with the renovation works (see up date of photos). The front of the pub is taking shape nicely. The roof rafters have been replaced with green oak on the round, from the Whitfield Estate, Wormbridge, Hereford where they are grown specifically for this purpose. Snow stopped work for a few days, but now the rafters are on, the special fire retardant material has arrived for the 'thatch', the roof will be covered in the next few days. The inglenook beam for the fireplace is enormous (see picture) and will be the next back breaking job to be done. So keep watching for more up to date pictures.
Update on Track:- In the new year the track was re-serviced by the commoners. Kevin James organised stone and machinery for the track. The Council have apparently agreed to pay 25% of the cost of the repairs and issue stone at 12 month periods for repair.
23/04/2007:- Shire Oak Construction is doing a remarkably good job and the resurrection of the 'Live' is now well under way. The oak frame has been replaced or made good by using old timber from elsewhere in the pub it has been sandblasted and treated for insects and looks stunning, the new and old timbers blending together well. (see images titled 'sandblaster'. Reclaimed Tudor bricks have been used on the front elevation to infill the oak frame. The roof is now complete, with willow weaved in-between the rafters to create a lovely feature which will be seen on the inside in the upstairs restaurant, the thatcher finishes today he has also done an excellent job (see 'finished thatch' image). The stone part of the pub has been repointed using lime mortar and upstairs the original lath wall has been exposed, this part of the building had to be underpinned as it had no footings, it was built directly on top of soil. The original lath wall will now be left as a feature in the upstairs restaurant (see images 040, 041and 074). Work has started on the car park with it being levelled and hard core being put down (thankfully it was a dry day).
To the right is Live and Let Live owner Sue Dovey viewing the progress of the pub with Ian Steele owner of Shire Oak Construction 15/07/2007:- Time for an update on the work at the ‘Live’: The exterior of the building is nearly complete with just the windows left to do. Inside the re-claimed flagstones have gone down in the two bar areas, over insulation and the underfloor heating. Originally these floors had Victorian quarry tiles, which have been re-used in the cellar and behind the bar. All the floors downstairs and upstairs are now laid. Upstairs, the restaurant has had a new elm floor. The tree was felled some 7 years ago, cut into planks with the bark left on, some of these planks are 18” wide and the character of this timber is clear to see. What could be saved from the original oak floor has been fitted in the ‘Stone Room’ The master carpenter has started on the oak staircase and oak windows, these are being made from oak planks, the carpenter Paul Gregory, has moved his machinery into the barn to make them onsite. The walls in the kitchen and toilets have been plastered and are ready to be fitted out. First fix electrics and plumbing is complete. The panels upstairs in between the oak frame have been insulated and had wood wool boards and lime putty haired scratch plaster used, this helps the building ‘breath’. These materials were purchased from Calch Tŷ-Mawr lime in The Pub sign has been painted by a local well known artist and it has been based on the old sign with an added twist of a mouse. Hence the straw mouse on top of the thatch. We are now waiting for the good old British weather to improve so as work can start on the beer garden and we can complete the work on the car-park. Keeping my fingers crossed! keep up to date with current pictures by clicking on the images link |
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