tenon

Traditional names for the woodworks’ joints, such as “gooseneck mortise” and “two-stop tenon,” sound a little like Jazz Age cocktails or dance crazes.

Instead, posts and beams were fitted together with mortise and tenon joints.

“The protruding tenons are clearing visible and the corresponding horizontal lintel stone would have had mortise holes for them to slot into. A bit like early Lego!”

The uprights and the lintels, both made of local sarsen stone, were locked together by means of a joint more commonly used in woodwork – the mortise and tenon.

Woodwork with mortise and tenon joints, original and restored hardware and tile-faced fireplaces are found throughout the nearly 6,000 square feet of living space.