How Did The Saxons Build Their Houses?

[@TheStickFigureHistorian]

It's so neat to actually get to see this on video! All I've ever seen before are drawings of old Saxon homes. I'll probably never make it over to England to see them myself...but this is the next best thing!

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ahh I'm sure you'll make it to UK at some point, it's too good to miss!

[@JimBagby74]

I visited West Stowe in '18. It was lovely. I want my own little village!

[@MistressQueenBee]

I can't believe I missed this on my vaca trip over. Well it is certainly on the must do list for net time ove.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

To be honest I have known about the site for many years but never thought to go there - I am definitely glad I did as this was beautiful.

[@kskssxoxskskss2189]

That first building brings to mind the taverns where English colonists in North America pursued conviviality and unofficial public meetings -- often at the same time. Indeed, many official events took place in taverns as well, since official meetinghouses were not always ready to hand.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It's nice to see similarities in the way people work and think, despite hundreds of years and thousands of miles difference!

[@julieblackstock8650]

ahhhh timely. Ive got this on my to visit list for next year

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I hope this has spurred you to take a visit ;)

[@carolescutt2257]

😊😊 it's always a pleasure to receive a notification from amazing aura Alex 😊😊 P.s great and thoroughly enjoyable informative upload Alex big thumbs up here xx❤

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you, much appreciated:)

[@fepeerreview3150]

Very interesting! Thank you for making this video. I hope to visit it someday.

[@TheOldBlackShuckyDog]

West stow was always my favourite place to visit on a day out as a kid lol

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I've known about it for years so I don't know why I only just recently decided to visit haha

[@giulianomarco]

Very interesting. Could I mention Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton le Hole in North Yorkshire? They have a variety of ancient reconstructions such as cruck houses, too.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

There are a number of experimental archaeology sites like this dotted around the country so I'll try getting to them all eventually! Thanks for bringing this one to my attention:)

[@tomaszsadowski1515]

The amazing description. You have a voice , who force birds to sing.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

I have never been told that before but I like it! Haha

[@lovelyskull3483]

Thank you.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure

[@Foster_117]

Very cool thanks

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure :)

[@lilykatmoon4508]

I really enjoyed this tour! Did all of the buildings have packed earth floors or were there any with wooden or cobbled floors?

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

A few had raised wooden planks floors but most had packed dirt pits

[@rosaryboy4271]

Great video this UP THE SAXONS our great history

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Haha well if you like Saxons then at the end of October you'll be very happy with a video I'm working on :^)

[@rosaryboy4271]

@@AlexTheHistoryGuy keep doing what u do on our great history

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Ayyyy thank you, I am loving travelling all over UK visiting hidden sites!

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

Very nice

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

Thank you :)

[@eh1702]

The 1970s house would have lasted much, much better if it had been lived in. The smoke to stop beams and thatch going rotten. People patching up the odd crack and hole here and there. It has actually lasted better than many modern houses do after a decade empty.

[@eh1702]

They would have taken care of the timbers - by maintaining the guttering trench around the house that runs rain away from the timber footings.

[@BonesyTucson]

Cool! thx.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

My pleasure!

[@debbralehrman5957]

You 70 buildings some most likely out buildings. Do they think that this was an average size community? Thank you for tour.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🌺

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

This would be on the larger side for a typical Saxon village. The majority of Saxon villages recorded in the Domesday book in the late 11th century tend to consist of about 20-40 houses.

[@lewisdoherty7621]

In North America colonialists seemed to initially go with thatched roofs. In Britain, agricultural waste from grain stalks was plentiful and wood wasn't that easy to get. Much of the land was dedicated to crops and pastures. There was substantial competition for various wood products. The forests had to go to feed man's herbivore animals. But the colonialists wondered what they were doing. Wood was very plentiful and they went to wooden shingles. I wonder how much a fire hazard thatch hooves are. All of those embers from the hearths. It must have been a nightmare.

[@AlexTheHistoryGuy]

It all depended on where you lived and the resources available locally. There are some Saxon buildings made with tile roofs, some with thatch, and some with turf or tree bark.